With the rip of tearing fabric and the hiss of the iron, volunteers turned a downtown Topeka street corner into an assembly line Monday night.

There was just one goal: To honor the two Topeka Police officers killed.

Cpl. David Gogian and officer Jeff Atherly were shot and killed while investigating possible drug activity at a Topeka grocery store Sunday.

"We have a lot of friends on the police force. There isn't a lot we can do but show they are not alone and they are important," downtown business owner and volunteer Carol Briman said.

Less than an hour after hundreds of people attended a candlelight vigil at the Law Enforcement Center in downtown Topeka, volunteers began making and tying black and blue ribbons around light poles just steps away.

"They are part of our downtown and they protect us all the time," said Edie Smith of Downtown Topeka Inc.

The volunteers set up shop in a small sewing store on Kansas Avenue. Some volunteers ripped fabric apart for others who picked up the strips of blue and black and then ironed them together.

A single blue stripe stood out against a black background.

Volunteers said their goal was to create 80 ribbons Monday night to adorn the light poles along Kansas Avenue.

"They help us in our community and we felt we wanted to do something in their honor," said Sheri Poore of Downtown Topeka Inc.