KYLE MURPHYStaff Writer

It was a bloody battle between the Tullahoma Police and Fire departments, as the police department came out on top in a friendly blood drive to assist Blood Assurance with critical supply shortages.

The “Battle of the Badges” blood drive was held at city hall on March 26, where donors pledged which team they were donating with, and the department with the most support will be recognized as the winner.

The following week, Tullahoma Police Chief Chase Sons, Fire Chief Kenneth Pearson and other city officials met at the Tullahoma Blood Assurance Center, located at 604 N. Jackson St. next to Walgreens, where the winning department was presented the award. 

Blood Assurance representative Karen Tackett presents Tullahoma Police Chief Chase Sons a trophy naming the Tullahoma Police Department the winner of the Battle of the Badges blood drive against the Tullahoma Fire Department.

According to Blood Assurance Account Manager Karen Tackett, Blood Assurance reached out to the city of Tullahoma to help Blood Assurance host an urgent blood drive by making it a “battle of the badges” blood drive.

“We were hoping for maybe 13 units and we got 32,” she said. “There were many, many lives saved and the patients in our community are the ones who win.”

She then presented the award to Sons as the police department won the blood drive with more pledges than the fire department.

While the blood drive concluded, the need of blood continues for Blood Assurance. Anyone who wants to donate can visit www.bloodassurance.org/donate, call 800-962-0628, or text BAGIVE to 999777 to schedule a donation.

Tullahoma residents can also schedule an appointment or walk-in at the Blood Assurance at 604 N. Jackson St. near Walgreens by calling 931- 461-5773. Business hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Blood Assurance is a nonprofit, full-service regional blood center serving more than 70 health care facilities in Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky and North Carolina. Founded in 1972 as a joint effort of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society, the Chattanooga Area Hospital Council and the Chattanooga Jaycees, the mission of Blood Assurance is to provide a safe and adequate supply of blood and blood components to every area patient in need.