Florida Cops Quit Shaving For a Cause

SARASOTA, FL — Tampa Bay area residents who happen to spot cops on the beat with 5 o’clock shadows or bright pink or purple nail polish don’t need to be concerned. “Movember” has officially arrived and that means some law enforcement agencies across the region are relaxing their appearance requirements for good causes.

The Movember Campaign takes place annually throughout the month of November. It is designed to raise awareness and funding for men’s health issues. The idea was sparked in 2003 by two men in Australia who, along with their friends, decided to grow moustaches throughout the month of November. The very next year, they registered as a charity and donated proceeds they raised to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia. With more than $710 million raised since 2003, the “Movember” movement quickly took off, spreading to other parts of the world.

The Sarasota Police Department is kicking off its third year of participation by once again fielding the “SPD Moustache Mayhem” team.

“This is a different and fun way for us to raise awareness and money for men’s health,” said Officer David Kennedy, who started Sarasota’s team three years ago. “We all have fathers, brothers, spouses, friends and neighbors who are facing prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health problems or are considering suicide and it’s not always talked about. This is an opportunity to change that.”

In Sarasota, the campaign kicks off with participants greeting Nov. 1 with clean-shaven faces. They then attempt to grow moustaches throughout the month. Both men and women are also encouraged to get physically active during the month and to work to spark conversations about health while raising cash for the cause.

Donations can be made directly to the Sarasota team on the official Movember website.

Police officers in Largo and Pinellas Park are putting their own spin on Movember. Those two agencies are locked in a “Battle of the Beards.”

“Male officers from both agencies will be allowed to grow professional looking facial hair in the form of a beard or goatee, while female officers from Pinellas Park PD will be allowed to participate by painting their fingernails pink or purple which are the colors of the American Cancer Society,” the Pinellas Park Police Department explained on its Facebook page.

Participants from both agencies are making $50 donations to take part. The money raised will go to two separate charities. Pinellas Park has earmarked its donations to go to the American Cancer Society in honor of members of the agency who have lost their lives to cancer or have survived their battles. Largo Police officers intend donate the cash they raise during their annual charity softball game against the Clearwater Police Department. Proceeds from the game benefit the Suncoast PBA charities.

It is unclear what other law enforcement agencies in the region are taking part.

To find out more about the hair-raising challenge, visit the Movember Foundation’s website.

To learn more about Pinellas Park’s participation, watch the video below.

Photo of Sarasota’s Moustache Mayhem team from 2015 courtesy of SPD