Community Health & Wellness Police & Fire

Trading jabs during the Battle of the Badges

It was a battle unlike any other, an all-day fight between two teams that were out for blood.

The Gig Harbor Police Department and Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One faced off during the third annual Battle of the Badges Red Cross Blood Drive on Monday, May 19, at the Gig Harbor Civic Center. The results were clear at the end of the day: Fire 41, Police 11.

The battle employs the friendly rivalry between fire service and law enforcement responders to benefit the American Red Cross. Locally, it’s organized by Red Cross volunteer Larry Bleich.

Gig Harbor Fire will be presented with the 2025 Battle of the Badges trophy at an upcoming Gig Harbor City Council meeting, Bleich said.

Red Cross Phlebotomist Shanel Combs finishes setting up Tacoma Police Lt. Steve O’Keefe for his blood donation at the Gig Harbor Civic Center. O’Keefe was unaware of the competitive event, Battle of the Badges, when he arrived for his pre-scheduled donation appointment. He was happy to add to the meager numbers of the Gig Harbor Police Department.
Photo by Marsha Hart

“I try to make it fun, and build relationships,” Bleich said. “That’s what I do here.”

Fire starts with an edge

Because Gig Harbor Fire has more employees than the Gig Harbor Police Department than police, Bleich counts police donations as double. The event is also open to the public — anyone can sign up for their donations to count for either team.

Gig Harbor Fire Deputy Chief Nick Langlow, who participated in his second Battle of the Badges, basked a little in an apparent win while enjoying the crackers and juice box that each donor receives.

By 1 p.m. Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One had a significant lead during the Red Cross Battle of the Badges event at the Gig Harbor Civic Center on Monday. Photo by Marsha Hart

“The last half hour I’ve been here I’ve seen four firefighters, and it looks like we’re winning today,” Langlow said. “I give because I believe it’s good for your health to donate blood, and also, we see the need for it all the time (as first responders). Not everybody can donate, so those who can try to donate as often as we can.”

He appreciated the healthy competition that encourages more people to donate blood.

Tacoma Police Lt. Steve O’Keefe signed up to donate without even knowing about the Battle of the Badges. He donates every eight weeks at locations around the region, he said.

“It looks like the Gig Harbor Police are getting their butts kicked today,” O’Keefe said. 

Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One will be presented with the 2025 Red Cross Battle of the Badges trophy at the May 27 Gig Harbor City Council meeting. The fire defeated police 41-11 during the blood drive. Photo by Marsha Hart

He sent a texted a colleague with the 1 p.m. results, and said his friend’s response was a jab: Police were behind because they were working, while the fire department is always kissing babies. The rivalry between fire and police has a long, friendly, competitive history.

Always a need for donations

O’Keefe uses the Red Cross app on his phone to schedule donations, and he can also track where his donation goes. His previous donation eight weeks ago went to a hospital in Concord, Calif.

“It’s a nice thing to do because there’s such a need for blood,” he said.

Bleich designed the Battle of the Badges to encourage more people to donate because the need is so great.

“Every two seconds someone needs blood,” Bleich said. “The Red Cross supplies 40% of the nation’s blood, so we need at least 600 blood drives in the country every day. The only way to get blood is through donations.”

“Every donation saves three lives,” he said. “I used to work in fundraising, and this is better than money. By giving blood, you’re saving lives.”