Cohocton police department running organ and tissue donation program
The department is running an organ and tissue donation program until early 2011. Officer-in-charge Rob Anger took over the department in February, so this is his first attempt at running a program during the holiday season.
The small size of the department was one issue factoring into starting the organ and tissue donation program, said Anger. Mark Barnhart and Anger are the only officers in the department, and both are part-time.
“Most police departments do something, whether it’s Toys for Tots or something else. Being a small department, I thought of doing a can drive, but even that’s difficult when you only have two part-time officers,” said Anger. “Organ and tissue donation is significant, but it’s also simple to do.”
Anger started working on the program this past weekend. He printed out 100 forms, and has already received 13-15 forms.
“I printed out 100 as a starting point. If I’ve got to make more copies, that’d be wonderful,” said Anger.
He plans on speaking at a library meeting and with the Atlanta and Cohocton Fire Departments to find people interested in becoming donors. Anger already spoke with town employees, people at the court facility, and other programs.
Facebook has also proved to be valuable in spreading information about the program, he said.
“I don’t do high-pressure sales. I present it to people. It’s a personal choice, so whatever anybody wants to do is fine,” said Anger. “I’m not going to hit people up at traffic stops.”
“It’s usually an all-or-nothing thing,” he continued. “People either say ‘give that to me’ or they say ‘eww, that’s creepy.’”
Anger said the response so far has been positive.
“Most people have asked when I’m in the office, when can I get a form,” he said.
Forms are available at the department at 19 Main Street, Atlanta. Anger and Barnhart are also keeping the forms in the patrol car.
Anger plans on sending in completed forms to the New York State Department of Health in early 2011.
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