Officer Zane Coolidge was admitted to the hospital and placed on life support, but sadly succumbed to his injuries last Friday. COURTESY: Phoenix Police Department / Facebook
In an effort to honor fallen and injured officers in the line of duty, Vitalant, Arizona’s largest nonprofit blood bank, in collaboration with the Phoenix Police Department, held a blood drive as of press time.
The event is intended to honor Officer Zane Coolidge, who was tragically wounded in a shooting, and Officer Matthew Haney, who was injured in the same incident.
Officer Coolidge, 29, and Officer Haney, 31, both assigned to the Mountain View Police Department, were shot last week while responding to a report of a vehicle theft near the intersection of 16th Street and McDowell Road.
Coolidge was admitted to the hospital and put on life support but sadly succumbed to his injuries on Friday, while Haney, who was protected by his bulletproof vest, was released from the hospital a day after the shooting and is recovering at home.
The suspected shooter, 41-year-old Saul Bal, was arrested and faces multiple charges, including one for first-degree murder.
The blood drive coincided with the National Day of Service on September 11, and is one of several initiatives through which the community can pay tribute to the officers affected.
Additionally, organizations such as the Phoenix Police Foundation, the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association and the 100 Club of Arizona are raising funds to support officers’ families during this difficult time.
This event not only seeks to honor the memory of Officer Coolidge, but also to offer tangible support to those who, like Officer Haney, risk their lives daily to protect the community.
