Vicksburg police officer Burt Ryan has always been the type to help anyone in need, but now the longtime lawman needs the community’s help.

Ryan was recently diagnosed with a type of lymphoma that requires frequent blood transfusions, and Vicksburg police are holding a blood drive for him Tuesday, Deputy Police Chief Bobby Stewart said.

“He is not shy about going above and beyond the call of duty to save someone’s life or attempt to,” Stewart said, noting Ryan had saved a driver who had driven into a pond in the past two years and that he attempted to save a man from drowning at City Front in 2009.

The blood drive is set for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Vicksburg Convention Center.

“All the donations that are given are for Burt, but any blood he can’t use will remain with Mississippi Blood Services,” Stewart said.

Ryan has been with Vicksburg Police Department for almost 10 years and has worked in patrol and traffic, Chief Walter Armstrong said.

“Burt never complained about his illness but there’s a lot of indication according to other officers that he was not feeling well a lot of days that he was at work. But he took the post seriously and wanted to fulfill his obligations to the citizen’s of Vicksburg,” Armstrong said.

This past week, Ryan was discharged from the hospital and was at home resting, Armstrong said.

“We’re hoping for communitywide participation,” Armstrong said of the blood drive.

The blood drive started out as a battle of the badges through Mississippi Blood Services, Stewart said. The blood bank called the police department, sheriff’s office and fire department and asked them to sponsor a blood drive to see which agency could get the most donations.

“They were doing one statewide between law enforcement and firefighters to see who could bring in the most blood because in the summer months, they deplete their blood supply,” Stewart said.

The battle of the badges is still on, but the focus is now on Ryan.

“People can say they’re donating for the police department, the sheriff’s office, the fire department or they can just say they’re donating for Burt Ryan,” Stewart said.