Mission Accomplished: Greenwich Battle of the Badges

Photos: Cos Cob Fire Police Patrol volunteer Stephanie Ashley donates blood Dec. 5, 2015 while her daughter Anneliese looks on; GEMS staff Jim Anderson, Stephanie Ashley and Police Chief James Heavey (contributed); Ana Heavey updates the score board; the final tally. Credits: Barbara Heins.

They all bled red on Saturday. And when the 7th annual Battle of the Badges blood drive was done, the Greenwich Police Department handily earned their sixth consecutive title for donating the most blood that pitted police against Greenwich Fire and Greenwich Emergency Medical Service (GEMS).

The American Red Cross set up their bloodmobile in the Greenwich Police Garage where a total of 53 pints of blood were collected.

Police Chief James Heavey said he was pleased with the turnout from not only his staff but from firefighters including volunteers from the Glenville, Banksville and Cos Cob departments and the Cos Cob Fire Police Patrol, and GEMS. Residents who donated could choose which emergency agency to support with their blood donation.

“This is a nice thing to do. We prefer to do it at this time of the year because with the holidays there is more need with accidents and there are less donors,” Heavey said. “With every pint you donate, you can save up to three lives with the blood products and plasma.”

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Several Greenwich officers came in on their days off while others came in early for their shift to donate, Heavey said.

Stephanie Ashley, a three-year member of the Cos Cob Fire Police Patrol, made her first blood donation ever, in the name of the fire department.

“I’m trying to make the fire department win the challenge,” she said as her twin 12-year-old daughters Anneliese and Charlotte joked with her and snapped photos.

By the time it was over, Greenwich Police retained the Battle of the Badges title with 25 pintes collected; 13 for the fire service and 15 for GEMS.