Community members in Southington came together on Friday to show support for the Southington Police Department.
They wore blue clothes and blue ribbons and hung large signs on buildings and blue ribbons on light poles throughout the downtown area.
They called the movement “Southington Blue.”
“It’s a great day for our community. A day that we can recognize, appreciate and say thanks to our men and women in blue,” John Myers, the executive director of the YMCA, said. “Every day they’re out there serving us, protecting us and they’re just true community partners.”
The school district joined in to show support by passing out blue ribbons to the staff members at every school. They even decorated their office doors and put coffee and donuts out for officers who stopped by.
“It just brings everybody together and we all kind of make fun. We have a little competition and we are here just to support the Southington Police Department, who support us every single day throughout the school district,”
Michelle Passamano, the executive director to the assistant superintendent of schools, said.
Local
Passamano said supporting police is a message she also wants to relay to her own children.
“They do so much. They are there all the time. As a parent, I think showing your child right from wrong and being able to show them what you can do when a community pulls together, I think it helps them become a better person,” said Passamano.
Webster Bank on Main Street even had pizza, donuts and cookies for the officers.
“The officers here, they come to work and do their job because it’s their job. They don’t look for it, they don’t expect anything,” Southington Police Lt. Michael Baribault said. “It really makes us feel good and makes us feel appreciated.”
