BEAR, Del. – The New Castle County Division of Police hosted the annual In Honor of New Castle County Police Lt. Joseph Szczerba Blood Drive at Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #5 on Tuesday, September 19.
Lieutenant Szczerba was heroically killed in the line of duty on September 16, 2011.
“Lieutenant Szczerba was a big proponent of giving back to the community he served,” said blood drive coordinator and FOP #5 Recording Secretary Matthew Disabatino. “One of the things he did frequently was blood donations. We have a really good turnout this year.”
The annual tradition held in conjunction with Blood Bank of Delmarva booked 35 appointments.
Everyone one of those donors was needed today in the wake of the blood emergency announced on Thursday, September 14. In addition, a national blood emergency was announced last week as well.
Among the donors was Szczerba’s brother-in-law, Paul Anderson.
“He was my wife’s little brother,” Paul said. “I donated in June and I was due in August. But I waited for this event.”
Ray Petkevis donated at the In Honor of New Castle County Police Lt. Joseph Szczerba Blood Drive today, and he expressed an interest in working with Blood Bank of Delmarva Account Manager Mary Moore to raise awareness of the need for blood. Ray works in the local Real Estate community.
Also among the donors were several police officers, including New Castle County Police Lt. Allen Herring, Mounted Patrol Commander Mary Devine, Senior Sgt. Mike Bingnear, Detective Andrew Fitzgerald, Lt. Brian Burke, Officer Mason Campbell and Elsmere Police Lt. Gregg Shelton. Retired New Castle County Police officer Jack Reyes donated as well.
Channel 6ABC journalist John Jankowski covered the In Honor of New Castle County Police Lt. Joseph Szczerba Blood Drive.
Director, Donor Resources Nicole Pineault and Mary thanked Supervisor, Collections Gilroy Jack, Bloodmobile Driver Ty McCall and Blood Collection Techs Mariana Santana-Ruiz, Lexi Moore, An’Nael Bailey, Shanae Roberts and Briyonni Brown for their hard work on Tuesday.
