Editor's Note: Are you wearing blue this week or will your front porch be aglow in honor of city, county, state and U.S. law enforcement Show us how you are observing "Paint the Town Blue" by sending a photo to julie@connect-bridgeport.com. 

 

This week’s “Paint the Town Blue” activities continue to grow – and for a reason quite personal to the city.

 

“I think the reason Bridgeport picked up and ran with this so much is that it has hit so close to home – coming so close to the anniversary of the death of Derek Hotsinpiller,” said City Recorder Melissa Matheny, wife of Stonewood Police Chief Robert Matheny.

 

Rather than just targeting Feb. 19 - the day nationally set aside to honor members of law enforcement - the city is holding “Paint the Town Blue” week, beginning Mon., Feb. 16. That date marks the fourth anniversary of the death of Hotsinpiller, a 2005 graduate of Bridgeport High School, who went on to serve as Deputy U.S. Marshal. Hotsinpiller lost his life while serving a warrant in Elkins.

 

“For the past few years, people have been putting blue lights up in honor of Derek and his service,” Matheny said.

 

The blue lights have become a local tradition and is an official observance of “Paint the Town Blue.” To help facilitate that endeavor, the Bridgeport Police Department – of which Hotsinpiller’s brother Dustin and late father Jim were both members – is selling blue light bulbs. Each bulb costs $5 with all proceeds benefiting “Wives Behind the Badge.”

 

Matheny is a brand new member of the West Virginia branch.

 

“What the organization really started out as a support system for wives of men in law enforcement. You hear all the time about army wives and what they have to go through and there’s no way I could do what they do. I have so much respect for them as they have to say goodbye to their husbands or wives for months at a time and not know if they will come home, but every single day when my husband leaves, there’s a possibility he could not come home,” she said.

 

But from that support system, Wives Behind the Badge grew into an organization which hosts a number of programs to benefit law enforcement families.

 

“Not one position in the organization is paid,” Matheny said. “It is 100 percent volunteer and every single penny put into the organization is donated or raised and goes toward programs of support for families of law enforcement. I think that is so important. We’re like a big family and we all understand what each other goes through. Not everybody experiences Christmas day without their husbands or wives, but we understand because we’ve been there.”

 

One of the organization’s many programs is H.A.L.O.S. – Helping Aid Lost Officers’ Survivors. Matheny just completed training to be a program volunteer.

 

“Anytime there is an officer down or injured, they send out cards or food. They basically just support the family of that officer and get them anything they need,” she said. “As one of the ‘angels’ for the H.A.L.O.S. Program, I become that connection for that family.”

 

On Friday, Matheny completed her first official duty for H.A.L.O.S., the delivery of a card to Anmoore Police Chief Don Quinn, who was accidentally shot in the line of duty last Friday.

 

“Nobody is immune to this kind of situation. No one is safe. Something like this could happen anywhere,” Matheny said.

 

There are numerous “Wives Behind the Badge” programs which Matheny is excited to learn about and take part in.

 

To show appreciation to the city’s “boys in blue” – members of the Bridgeport Police Department – the City of Bridgeport is sponsoring a "Dress Blue" day Thurs., Feb. 19. Businesses are invited to collect donations of $5 per person, which will be collectively donated to "Wives Behind the Badge." For more information, call City Clerk Andrea Kerr at 304-842-8233. 

 

Also, area restaurants and individuals will be providing meals for all shifts during the week of Feb. 16-20.

 

“I'm just amazed at the response,” said Jan Frenzel, mother of Bridgeport Police Officer J. Frenzel. She is helping Matheny with “Paint the Town Blue” coordination efforts.

 

On board are Meagher’s Irish Pub, the Clique Club, Mia Margherita, Garfields and even the faculty of Bridgeport Middle School.

 

“If anyone else in the community wants to participate, it would be wonderful,” Matheny said. “We’re hoping to provide meals for every shift next week and we don’t want to forget about the midnight shift – the guys who are sleeping during the day when everyone else is having lunch.”

 

Statewide, “Paint the Town Blue” Day, Feb. 19 - will feature a Day at the West Virginia Capitol to honor fallen members of law enforcement and their families. Dressing in blue and attending that event may not be doable for everyone, but Matheny said tentative plans are in the works for locals to meet at City Hall sometime on Thursday. Stay tuned to Connect-Bridgeport for details. 

 

Editor's Note: Pictured above is a tribute posted by Bridgeport Police Department to honor Hotsinpiller on the fourth anniversary of his death. Also pictured is Matheny.