Battle of the Badges pits CCSO against police

The teams are set, and as famous ringside announcer Michael Buffer would bellow, “Let’s get ready to rumble.”

And rumble they will as community volunteers and employees from the Fallon Police Department and the Churchill County Sheriff’s Office will stick their best arm (and vein) forward in the sixth annual Battle of the Badges.

The annual rivalry is July 9-10 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Fallon Convention Center. Those who volunteer will receive a T-shirt and be entered to win a car. Vitalant hosts the annual Battle of the Badges Blood Drive Campaign, and it comes at a critical time where one donation can save up to three lives.

“It only takes about an hour to donate and that includes the cookies and juice you will get after you donate,” said Scott Edward, Vitalant’s senior recruitment manager.

Shannon Perez, a systems administrator and legal secretary for the Churchill County District Attorney’s office and a member of Ladies Behind the Badge, said Fallon’s Battle of the Badges is part of Vitalant’s larger campaign.

“We’ve grown over the years,” Perez said, expecting this year’s battle will be another tight competition.

Perez said the other agencies in the area have their own blood drives, but the FPD and CCSO decided to have their own blood drive and use it as a competition.

“These two agencies are very serious for whoever gets that coveted trophy each year,” Perez said.

For residents who want to donate blood, Perez said they will be asked which law enforcement agency receives the credit.

Police Chief Ron Wenger said expects another tough competition between the two law enforcement agencies. Out of 99 whole blood donations that resulted in 133 units, CCSO edged Fallon Police 77 to 76 in last year’s competition.

“It’s a friendly shedding of the blood,” Wenger said. “It’s a great cause, and I’ll try to donate as much as I can.”

Although CCSO edged the men and women of blue a year ago, Wenger said the sight of the police department’s previous trophies is beautiful.

“We have the trophy on the wall,” Wenger said. “It looks good, and we would like to have another one on the wall.”

The timing of this year’s Battle of the Badge comes at a time, though, when several police offices will leave for a conference. Wenger said the officers will donate blood before they leave town.

Sheriff Richard Hickox said it was an honor for his department to win last year’s trophy, and he thanked the many volunteers from the community who gave blood so others may live.

“We are honored to have the trophy; it will remind us of all the great people in our community who came out and gave of their time but more importantly their life's blood so that others may continue to live,” he said. “Let’s band together to save lives. Remember to tell them the sheriff's office sent you.”

To book your spot, call Vitalant Blood Center at 775-329-6451 or go to: https://www.vitalant.org/fallon

Walk-ins are also welcomed. Before volunteers donate, they should eat, hydrate and bring a photo ID.