Boston Police Department Sgt. Det. John Burrows and Officer Awan Freeman, shown with Fire Commissioner Paul Burke and Police Commissioner Michael Cox, were named Red Cross Heroes during the recent 2024 Boston Heroes breakfast, an annual fundraiser for the Red Cross of Massachusetts.

Both Burrows and Awan served as medics in the military before joining BPD and have since witnessed gunshot or stab wound victims whose lives could have been saved with immediate care prior to first responder arrival.

They began training fellow officers on controlling life-threatening bleeding by packing wounds and applying tourniquets. Now, they have taken that training to the public, teaching Stop the Bleed courses in community centers and offices around Mattapan and Dorchester.

“The Red Cross is incredibly grateful to everyone who donates their time, energy and funds to make this event a success,” said Holly Grant, CEO of the Red Cross of Massachusetts. “We would not be here without the support of our corporate partners like State Street, not to mention the business and community leaders that serve on our Leadership and Heroes Councils.”