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Aurora Officer Shot During Traffic Stop At Center Of Blood Drive

AURORA, Colo. (CBS4)- Aurora Police Officer Ryan Burns was seriously injured when he was shot during a traffic stop in November. Now he's asking others to give the gift of life with a blood drive he organized to thank the community for its support during his recovery.

"We're here to give blood in support of Officer Burns," said Aurora Police Lt. Michael McClelland.

Burns was wounded after pulling over a car thief on Nov. 14. The suspect in the shooting fled the scene but was captured a few days later.

"He gave his blood for us so this is simple, we give our blood for him," said McClelland.

Burns underwent four surgeries and received five pints of blood at University of Colorado Hospital.

On Wednesday Bonfils Blood Center turned a room at Aurora City Hall into a blood donation center. City of Aurora employees were among the 87 people who made an appointment and took a few minutes to make a big difference in someone else's life.

"We like to step up for one another so it's just everyone's way of showing support for him," said Aurora Police spokesman Sean Pascal.

"We're a family. I've been on the department for 18 years and I know they're my secondary family. I know if something like this happened to me they'd take care of me," said McClelland.

Burns organized the blood drive as a way to say, "thank you" to the community for supporting him, to the doctors and nurses who helped save his life and to the donors who gave their blood to keep him alive.

"That doesn't surprise me at all, that's his character. He's always thinking of others instead of himself," said Pascal.

If you are interested in donating blood, visits Bonfils.org.

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