WESTFIELD – In order to support the Westfield Police Department, several residents hung up navy-blue ribbons on Western Avenue from Stanley Park to Westfield State University on July 11.

Donna Costa, the woman who came up with the idea to hang the ribbons, said that she wanted the police department to know that residents support them. “I wanted to let the police department know that we support them. We know they have a tough job and we wanted to let them know we appreciate they do every day,” she said.

She added that some of her inspiration came after residents in West Springfield did a drive-by parade at their police department to show their support.

Along with the ribbons on Western Avenue Costa said that she also asked her sister, Cheryl Hitas to ask her neighbors to put ribbons up in their neighborhood as well.

While she said the police always have a tough job to do, she said that now is the time to come out and encourage them. She said, “Right now the police are being picked on. They don’t know what’s going to happen when they go to work every day and that’s an awful way to go to work.”

At the time of our original conversation, Costa said she was looking for a donor for the ribbons and later confirmed that the Westfield Walmart would be providing the ribbons.

After reaching out to about 10 different sign companies, she said West Side Signs in West Springfield would make two signs with a thank you message for the Westfield Police to be put up along Western Avenue on July 15.

Costa, who also works in elderly healthcare, said that because of COVID restrictions seniors do not have an opportunity to go out and support the department. “Right now, the elderly can’t go out, so hopefully these ribbons make them feel a little better knowing that someone is out supporting the police,” she said.

Costa said that she hopes all cities and towns find similar ways to show their support for local police departments. She said, “What we’re doing now is in support of police everywhere, and I hope all cities and towns do something similar because I think it would help everyone feel a little better.”

She added that while she is putting up the ribbons for the police, she wanted the fire department to know that she supports them too, but now was the time for more support for the police.

“I didn’t want to leave out the fire department because they are just as important, but right now it’s a different story for the police department and they need our support,” Costa said.

With the ribbons up, Costa said she hopes they can stay up for the rest of the summer.