More than 200 donate blood on cop's behalf

Sugar Loaf - More than 200 people came out Wednesday to participate in a blood drive in honor of injured Town of Chester Police Officer Robert Ferrara brought at the Sugar Loaf Fire Department. The streets near the firehouse were still lined with cars three hours after the blood drive began. With one hour to go, there was still a line at the door with dozens seated waiting for a vacated stretcher to donate. New York Blood Center had a team of collectors while the community came out to give. "What kind of blood do you need?" asked one man in line. A blood center worker told him any kind. Town of Chester Police Chief Brian Jarvis said Ferrara took about 11 units of blood after the collision with a driver who was being chased by police from four jurisdictions the night of July 20. Monroe residents Ralph and Liz Leitner came out to donate. "We heard about the serious accident and we wanted to do whatever we could to help him," said Ralph Leitner. "Afterall, his job is to help us all the time and it's just a little payback to do as much as we can."