Sorting blue ribbons are North Transition Specialist Sarah Painter, Westerville Vice Mayor Kathy Cocuzzi, and students Kaitlyn and Thomas.
Following the tragic loss of Westerville police officers Eric Joering and Anthony Morelli on February 10, citizens and businesses throughout the community displayed blue ribbons, posters, and blue lights, in their memory. Police Chief Joe Morbitzer released a letter to the public on Wednesday, addressing the end of the official mourning period for the police department and expressing gratitude for all the support they have received during the past month. “It is our goal to live the ideals and values of Tony and Eric each and every day,” he wrote. “It is a personal decision when you feel it is the right time to change out light bulbs and remove the ribbons.” The city set up a recycling bin for those who wished to remove their ribbons, and Chief Morbitzer suggested that during Police Memorial Week, May 11-16 each year, citizens might choose to display blue ribbons and bulbs in memory of all officers killed in the line of duty.
On March 9, transition students from Westerville Central, North and South high schools were joined by the Westerville Central K.U.B. Club (be Kind.beUnique.always be your Best) to clean, sort, fold and transform blue ribbons collected from around the city into bows that will be placed along State Street during Police Memorial Week in May.