Local law enforcement officers in Benton, Calvert City and the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office are literally letting their hair down for a good cause this month.
Officers throughout Marshall County are participating in “No-shave November,” as part of an effort to raise awareness for prostate cancer and raise funds for both cancer research and the local Shop with a Cop program for at-risk youth. A first for each of the county’s departments – Benton PD, Calvert City PD and the MCSO – the campaign allows officers and deputies who choose to participate to pay $1 per day that they don’t shave their facial hair, or cut their hair at CCPD.
It’s an idea that CCPD Chief David Elliott said had gained in popularity throughout the years to bring awareness to the struggles of cancer and regular screenings to avoid such.
“It seems like it’s grown through the years,” Elliott said. “You know, each year it seems like more and more people are participating and we’ve noticed here lately that a lot of people have kind of stepped up to the plate for cancer and for the various things that people are doing it for, and it seemed to be a pretty good thing. … A couple of the guys seem pretty excited about it.”
No-Shave November is a nonprofit organization devoted to “growing” cancer awareness by encouraging men – and women – to cease shaving and grooming to begin conversation. According to no-shave.org, participants are urged to donate the funds they typically spend on hair maintenance and shaving during the month toward cancer research.
Local law enforcement have taken their own approach to the campaign, however. BPD officers have elected to give back, contributing funds raised from within BPD to cancer research, according to the department’s social media.
Chief Jeromy Hicks was unavailable for comment Thursday afternoon, however the department is accepting donations toward the effort to submit along with that raised in house. Those who wish to donate may contact BPD at 270-527-3126 or stop by the office at Benton City Hall.
“We are thankful for the opportunity to participate and raise money for a wonderful program,” a department issued statement read on BPD social media.
CCPD officers and MCSO deputies elected to give to a local charitable organization or program.
“I felt like this was something we could do to give back to the community,” Elliott said. “ … This is our first year for it, we’re going to try it and see what happens.”
MCSO Maj. David Maddox said officers at agencies in Murray and Owensboro had participated in previous years, and Det. Jeff Daniel suggested Marshall County agencies should consider taking part to raise funds for Shop with a Cop. Maddox said the department felt it would be a good fit to let the community see the more human side to law enforcement, and benefits a cause in which officers felt closely connected.
According to the Marshall County Shop with a Cop Facebook page, the annual event “works to bridge the gap between children and law enforcement, specifically in instances where children have either been victims of a crime or have family members who have been involved with law enforcement in some way.”
“I think just about everybody is participating in it,” Maddox said. “… (It’s) something we all find near and dear to our hearts, the Shop with a Cop. That’s a really good program. You know, a lot of times, at-risk kids they only get to see the negative side of police. You know, when a parent or a friend, an older brother or sister are arrested or something like that, or we come to their house because of some crime. So, this is a good chance to spend some time with the kids in a positive way. They get a lot of enjoyment out of it, and so do we.”
Maddox said officers take children on a holiday shopping trip in mid-December each year and then for a pizza party after. Shop with a Cop coordinator and Benton Police Sgt. Stephen Sanderson was unavailable for comment as of Thursday afternoon.
The No-Shave November campaign is open to any officer who wants to participate, throughout November. Officers will return to their clean-shaven appearance Dec. 1.
For more information on No-Shave November, visit no-shave.org.