MILTON, Del. - The town of Milton is feeling blue...for a good cause.

On Wednesday, local leaders dedicated three crosswalks outside the police department to the officers and other law enforcement agencies in the form of thin blue lines painted in the crosswalks. Milton Police Chief Robert Longo says it's far more than just paint for them.

"This here rejuvenates the staff by seeing that they are recognized," he says. "It's that little pat on the back, that little 'atta boy' for the work that they do everyday."

Councilman Emory West came up with the idea after seeing other municipalities paint "thin blue lines" on their streets. Milton painted their crosswalks instead as the intersection includes a state road, Route Five. Representative Steve Smyk says getting state and federal approval took months, but it was well worth it, as the crosswalks have even more significance due to recent law enforcement deaths in Delaware.

"What you're going to find is the public gets a chance to say something just because there's recent heartache for us, for Steven Floyd and Stephen Ballard," he says. "They were executed doing their duty and that says a lot to Delawareans. Delaware came and rallied to support their police officers."

Milton Mayor Ted Kanakos says all it cost the town was two quarts of paint, and even that was donated. He says he's proud of his town's department.

"We are blessed that Milton has one of the lowest crime rates in the state, and we are going to keep it that way," he says. "This is a way of letting folks know we are aware of the police and the terrific job they do. It's a dangerous job. and they do it well."

Chief Longo says as far as he's aware, the paint will remain in the crosswalks indefinitely.