Greenwich PD Is Tops in Annual Battle of the Badges Blood Drive

In the seventh annual ‘Battle of the Badges,’ a friendly competition between Greenwich Police, Fire and EMS personnel to see which branch can donate the most blood to the American Red Cross, the Greenwich Police Department came out on top — again.

For the sixth consecutive year, Greenwich’s finest won the Battle of the Badges on Saturday with 36 pints of donated blood. The Greenwich Fire Department and Greenwich Emergency Medical Service each made 16 donations and two town lifeguards who didn’t have a departmental allegiance, also donated.

In total, 58 pints were donated, just two pints shy of the goal of 60, according to Police Chief James Heavey. “It was very successful with fire and EMS well represented,” Heavey said. “We had 70 people stop by to donate but for various reasons, some couldn’t or the scheduling didn’t work for them.”

Heavey added, “Some of them said they would attend the next blood drive” which will be held Saturday, Dec. 27 at First Presbyterian Church at 1 W. Putnam Ave.

“There’s always a need for blood, but it’s especially critical during the holidays,” Heavey said.

The Dec. 27 Inter-Faith Blood Drive is being sponsored by Conrgation Shir Ami, First Baptist, First United Methodist, Round Hill Community and First Presbyterian churches. It’ll be held from 8 a.m. to 1:15 a.m. To schedule an appointment, call 1-800-733-2767.

Greenwich’s bravest won the first Battle of the Badges in 2008 with the police department taking the title every year since.

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