Bridgeport chief bans No Shave November cancer fundraiser
BRIDGEPORT — Acting Police Chief Rebeca Garcia has banned a popular fundraiser that raises money to fight cancer.
No Shave November has become a widely recognized lateyear cancer-awareness effort whose participants forego their normal grooming habits and allow their hair to grow, then give the money they would have spent on that self-care and any donations to a charity.
And it is not unusual for police departments in Bridgeport and other municipalities whose officers typically abide by strict codes of appearance to look forward to that rare, 30-day chance to loosen up. New Haven’s force did it last year, and other area law enforcement agencies in Danbury, Fairfield, Westport, Stamford and Greenwich have participated in the past.
This year, however, Garcia, has decided that there will be no No Shave November for the men and women under her command.
“We are disappointed by Chief Garcia's decision to cancel NoShave November,” Sgt. Brad Seely, the union president, told Hearst Connecticut Media in a statement Wednesday. “We’ve raised thousands of dollars in the past to help fight cancer. Police departments across Connecticut sponsor similar events to give back to their communities. We hope to work with the chief to find alternative ways to raise funds for cancer awareness, research and treatment.”
City Councilman Matthew McCarthy, who is friends with several officers, has been vocal in his opposition to Garcia’s order. He argued that for various reasons morale within the force has been low and this will not help.
“I personally feel that it’s the little things that will go a long way to boost the morale of the police department,” McCarthy said.
Neither Garcia nor Ganim’s office responded to requests for comment about Garcia’s concerns with No Shave November.
McCarthy, however, on Monday received an emailed explanation of the chief ’s rationale from the mayor’s chief-of-staff, Daniel Shamas.
“I did speak with the chief this morning and she assured me that she is totally supportive of fund raising for various charities,” Shamas wrote. “The only reason she did not approve the beard shaving was solely based on safety. It seems as though the beard could get in the way when using some equipment. Also she mentioned that sometimes some choose not to shave and it makes for a bad appearance/reflects poorly on the department.”
Shamas said Garcia is seeking suggestions for another charity event.
Formerly the assistant top cop, Garcia took over last September when then-Chief Armando Perez was arrested on federal charges of cheating in 2018 to obtain that job. Earlier this year the union voted no-confidence in Garcia’s leadership and members since July 1 have been working without a contract while a new pact is negotiated with Mayor Joe Ganim’s administration.
Perez allowed Bridgeport’s officers to participate in No Shave November but in March 2017 issued an internal memorandum about grooming after, he claimed, some abused their limited freedom.
Entitled “Uniforms and Personal Appearance” the memorandum emphasized that “a beard, goatee or long hair is prohibited except when required due to a medical condition (or) the specific needs of some plainclothes assignments.”
“I let them do it (No Shave November). And after a while it’s January, February, and some guys are walking around with goatees and beards,” Perez had said at the time.