LACKAWANNA COUNTY -- While hundreds of state troopers have been in the thick of the manhunt for suspected cop killer Eric Frein, many of their wives are looking for a way to raise money for the victims of the ambush in Blooming Grove.
The result is in an enormous outpouring of support for the Pennsylvania State Police.
We spoke to some of the wives of troopers who have been searching for Frein every day. They say the past 10 days have been gut wrenching.
Christina Hitchcock said, for the past 10 nights, she's stayed up waiting for the sound of velcro, her husband removing his bullet-proof vest. Then she can sleep.
"The stress level has gone up, like, 1000 percent, so you're constantly worrying. Yet you want to be supportive and helpful and making sure everything is calm at home, so when they do get home, they don't have to worry about anything," Hitchcock said.
Hitchcock's husband is one of the hundreds of troopers searching for a man suspected of killing one of their own. She and other trooper wives decided to channel their nervous energy by designing and selling t-shirts that bear a slogan that means a lot more to them these days: "PSP Strong."
The wives never expected to sell out of 400 t-shirts in under an hour at an event this past weekend in Lackawanna County. The money raised will go to the families of Corporal Bryon Dickson, who was killed in the shooting, and Trooper Alex Douglass, who was severely injured.
In Olyphant, where Trooper Douglass lives, dozens of his neighbors showed their support by hanging blue ribbons outside their homes and keeping their porch lights on all night.
"It was actually a better feeling than Christmas to see all the lights and how our development was lit up. It was an amazing feeling, just support, support, support,support," said Heather Schroeder of Olyphant.
The blue ribbons have since spread throughout Olyphant. The trooper wives have ordered hundreds more t-shirts to sell. They say while these outward signs of support do wonders for the troopers at work, they hope the feeling of support lasts when life gets back to normal.
"Whether they are on this manhunt for one of the FBI's most wanted, or just doing their day to day job, they are strong. They are the line of defense and making sure that everyone is safe and secure," Hitchcock said.
The PSP wives plan to sell more "PSP Strong" t-shirts at the YMCA in Dunmore on Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.