Polk County Police hold a blood drive.
Polk County Police Officer Andy Anderson traded his uniform for a Blood Assurance shirt during the latest blood drive he’s organized to help save lives in Northwest Georgia.
It was Anderson’s fourth blood drive at the Police Department headquarters in the past 13 months, where more than 150 units of blood combined have been collected in just over a year, which he said directly contributes to saving the lives of 500 people.
On Monday, he reported that 26 units of blood were donated from local residents, able to save 78 lives.
He wasn’t alone in organizing the drive. Cedartown High School’s HOSA club assisted in last Monday’s drive, just ahead of their own blood drive that took place last Thursday at the school.
Doing his part to host the blood drive and donate his own units is just one way Anderson sees that he can help the community and save lives.
“It means a lot to me with the blood drives, because we’re helping people who are in hospitals,” Anderson said. “It shows that we care about the community, and it’s a good feeling that if everyone does their part and all the bad things going on in the world, there’s still some good.”
Anderson said that his blood drives additionally receive help from local businesses with donations, which he additionally thanked for providing food and items that he and other volunteers can give away to those who have donated during the past events.
He also said that ultimately, it is his goal to ensure the community is helping others just as much as he is.
“I believe individually that everyone needs to do their part. The people that can come donate, the people that can come participate in the events we’re having with the police department builds a strong relationship and lets people know in the community what the police department stands for and what we do,” Anderson said. “We care about the citizens of the county.”
His involvement in community efforts like this — along with fundraisers and benefits he’s organized in the past years as well — makes him an example for the rest of the force to follow when it comes to connecting with people and working toward more trust between officers and local residents.
“It’s a blessing to have him on board,” Polk County Police Chief Kenny Dodd said. “He’s a fine police officer, one of the best here. He goes above and beyond what is required of him as a police officer and actually reaches out and does things for our community. That’s what you want as a chief. You like that guy who is actually connected to his community.”
He points to Anderson as an example his officers can follow, and have, and cited brief examples of some in his department who follow up to make sure the victims of domestic violence calls are doing well.
“One of the aspects that gets missed in our role is following up with the victims of family violence, but I have a couple of guys who are really good at that,” Dodd said.
However, Anderson goes above and beyond what is required, which is why Dodd nominated him as an Officer of the Year this year for the Exchange Club of Cedartown’s annual award.
“Andy took this upon himself to do, and he came to me to ask if it was OK, and of course I agreed,” Polk County Police Chief Kenny Dodd said. “He’s good about being out in the community, especially at the schools stopping by to let the kids see his patrol car, let them see us do something besides arresting people.”