The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Officers raise cash with No Shave November
Officers donate to a cause during No-Shave November
Many of the police officers in Eastlake and Willowick have had a hairy month.
Officers from both departments have forgone their daily shaving ritual and traded their typical clean-shaven appearances for beards in their efforts to help local kids and fellow officers.
No-Shave November, a yearly tradition that started about five to six years ago, now includes December — allowing the officers to keep their beards through the end of the year.
Willowick Police Chief Brian Turner said it’s a great way for the officers to do something they don’t get to do during the rest of the year.
The officers make a $50 donation to go toward a cause selected by the departments and then they are not required to shave.
Eastlake Officer Rick Isabella said he likes No-Shave November because it’s the only time of year they can grow out facial hair for more than their days off.
Officer Gary Hotchkiss, also of Eastlake, said he likes it because he thinks shaving is a hassle and it goes to a good cause.
Willowick Sgt. Dan Hirz said he thinks it give them the opportunity to do something great for the community and the kids. Officer Steve Fellinger, also of Willowick, said he thinks it gives him a different look that people seem to like and the money goes to a good cause for the kids.
Willowick Police Department will put all the funds raised toward The Christmas with Blue, an event being held for the second time by the department where officers take about 12 students from Royalview Elementary School in a limousine to go Christmas shopping for their families.
Turner decided to let the officers go the extra month so the officers have their beards for photos when they go shopping with the kids.
“This benefits the guys (officers) a little bit, giving them a month or two off from shaving, which helps them in colder weather. Then the $50 donations give a nice chunk of change we can put toward worthy causes every year,” Eastlake Police Chief Larry Reik said.
The Eastlake officers help to decide where the money goes.
“We put a couple of options out there and try to do the best with what we have,” Reik said.
Eastlake will divide the funds raised over the two months for two different causes.
Funds raised during November will go to help Willoughby Hills officers Craig Anderson and Cory Planisek, who suffered lineof-duty injuries when they were shot Sept. 28.
Funds raised by the department in December will benefit personnel going through a family medical crisis, Reik said.
An estimate of how much money raised is not available at this date, as not all officers will continue to grow beards to the end of the year.
Reik said nine of his officers participated in November, but thinks fewer may be participating in December. Turner said he thinks all but one of his officers participated, and he had a dispatcher participate as well.
For both departments, this is an in-house fundraiser, but outside donations in any amount won’t be turned away.
Anyone wishing to contribute can drop off donations at Eastlake Police Department, 35150 Lake Shore Blvd., or Willowick Police Department, 30435 Lake Shore Blvd.
The money will go to the cause of the department where the donations are made.