On a steamy, hot weekend, Plano Police and Fire Departments fiercely battled for the lives of patients in their community. There were no injuries sustained in the fight – but there was plenty of blood.

And this May, they’ll do it again at the eighth annual Battle of the Badges Blood Drive Challenge. This will be the eighth year the Plano Police and Fire Departments go head to head to see which side will collect the most blood and take home the coveted Battle of the Badges trophy.

Over the years the trophy has gone back and forth between the Police and Fire Departments. This year, it’s anyone’s game, and the competition is getting intense.

“They don’t play fair,” says Rick McDonald, Public Information Officer for the Plano Police. “They have an ambulance, which means they can drive around and pick people up to donate,” he says. “We have to handcuff our donors – which makes donating a little harder.” McDonald jokes, but he and his team are serious about the competition, which has been steadily building over the years. Everyone knows that the ultimate winners are the patients who will eventually need the very blood the two departments contend for.

This is the 8th year of the Battle of the Badges. The Police Department has won 5 years and the Fire Department has won 2 years.

After giving blood on these dates, be sure to drop your ballot to vote for your favorite hero: The Plano Police or The Plano Firefighters

This Years Locations

• Tuesday, June 12th

  7:00AM - 2:00 PM

  Poor Richard's Cafe (2442 Ave K)
  

  9:00AM - 4:00PM

  Plano City Hall (1520 Ave K)

• Wednesday, June 13th

  9:00AM - 4:00PM

  Police Department (909 E.14th St)

• Thursday, June 14th

  9:00AM - 4:00PM

  Fire Administration (1901 Ave K)
  

• Friday, June 15th

  12:00PM - 4:00PM

  Tino's Too (2205 Avenue K)
  

• Saturday, June 16th

  7:00AM - 2:00PM

  Poor Richard's Cafe (2442 Ave K)
  

  9:00AM - 1:00PM

  Tony's Cafe (NW Corner of Springcreek & Alma)
  

  12:00PM - 6:00PM

  Collin Creak Mall (East Side @ Sears; Two Buses)
  

  9:00AM - 4:00PM

  Asia World Market (240 Legacy; Two Buses)