To Rochester Police from the residents of Rochester: THANK YOU!

A Rochester youngster's message in crayon says it all. (Courtesy image)

You see them at the fair
You see them everywhere
They're the guys in blue
Protecting me and you

When danger calls they answer
No matter what the fray
They do it cause it's natural
It's in their DNA

There's women in their ranks
And to them we do say thanks
To the men and women in blue
This day today's for you

ROCHESTER - The city's Thank a Police Officer Day will be officially celebrated today culminating an effort that has been undertaken by city businesses and groups to honor the men and women in blue whose sole endeavor is our safety and maintenance of peace.

Major businesses and other entities involved in the collaborative effort include major underwriter Profile Bank as well as Groen Construction, HRCU, Rochester Main Street, The Elks, the Rotary, Atlantic Broadband, Skele-Tones, Rochester Schools, Tanya Lee Hervey Photography, Waterstone, Rochester Chamber of Commerce and The Rochester Voice, who is reminding folks to please "Thank a Cop" today when you see them on the street.

Meanwhile, sign and display entries like the one featured above will now move to the judging phase, with winners announced on Wednesday. Cash prizes await the top three choices, which we will publish in The Voice.

Residents were also asked to replace a porch light with a blue bulb or string blue Christmas lights on an outdoor shrub or bush.

For anyone who hasn't gotten into the spirit yet, there's still time to express your gratitude for the work our police do by leaving a "Thank You" card at one of several dropoff locations through Sept. 27. Dropoff locations include:

Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce

18 S. Main Street, Rochester

Holy Rosary Credit Union

133 Brock Street, Rochester

Service Credit Union

83 South Main Street, Rochester

"Paint the City Blue was formed in order to give residents and business owners the opportunity to thank the Police Department for their work," said Laura Ring, president and CEO of the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce. "It's is a great way for the community to come together for something positive."