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Blood drive held to honor fallen TPD officer

Seven years ago on Feb. 21, Toledo lost a hero. Toledo Police Detective Keith Dressel was shot and killed in the line of duty . On Friday, his memory and sacrifice were honored.
Larraine Dressel

TOLEDO, OH (Toledo News Now) - Sevenyears ago on Feb. 21, Toledo lost a hero. Toledo Police Detective Keith Dresselwas shot and killedin the line of duty. On Friday, his memory and sacrifice were honored.

Det.Dressel's family says he lived to help others. One of the ways he did that wasby frequently donating blood. Dozens came together on Friday for a blood drivein his honor.

"He'dhave this grin," said Larraine Dressel, Keith's mother. "I can't say the wordof what kind of grin, but he would have this grin and say, 'Oh, that's awesome!'"

Shesays she knows her son is looking down and smiling, not only at the idea of theevent, but at the turn out, as well.

"Police,fire, some of the colleges…people off the streets that heard about it," shesaid.

Thememory of that day in 2007 hits especially close to home right now for Toledofirefighters, who recently lost two oftheir own in the line of duty. Many of them stopped by the blood drive.

"Keithwas a hero, and we're just here today to honor him and help pay it forward and helpother people by giving blood," said Matt Conway, a firefighter.

Thisis the third year a blood drive has been held in Det. Dressel's name.

"Itmeans a lot," said his mother. "I was worried about that, but he's still loved."

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