Marlboro Officers Put Down Their Razors, Raised $4,000 So Far

MARLBORO, NJ — Marlboro police officers are giving their razors a break during November for a good cause.

For the third year in a row, the department is participating in No Shave November, an annual charity month-long event where men don't shave or cut their facial hair as a way to raise money for a good cause.

"No Shave November was one of the first initiatives I introduced once I became Chief," said Chief Peter Pezzullo, who was appointed in September 2019.

About 75 percent of the Marlboro police officers are participating. They committed to raising a minimum of $50 each. This year, they were also given the chance to partake in “Double Down December” which requires another $50 donation and allows the beards to remain until the end of the year.

The beards and mustaches must however remain neat and trimmed at all times, said Cpt. Stephen J. Levy.

"The officers look forward to giving their razors a little break while doing a great job raising money for such worthy causes," said Pezzullo. "I intend to continue this program for as long as I remain Chief."

The initiative has not gone unnoticed by people in town.

"We have received a few inquiries from the public as they are not accustomed to seeing our officers with facial hair, however, when explained why we are growing it, they are very receptive to the idea," Levy said.

Some of them have sent in their own donations.

So far, the department has raised $4,000 for the Summit Speech School, located in New Providence.

The school was chosen in part because one of the officers has a child who is hearing impaired and had previously attended the school. Their mission is to empower children with hearing loss to become effective communicators using listening and spoken language.

During No Shave November in the last couple of years, the department raised $5,500 for The Francis Foundation for Kids Fighting Cancer and $6,000 for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Cancer Unit.

Anyone interested in making a donation to The Summit Speech School, can contact Ptlm. James Caulfield at 732-536-0100, ext. 1118 or jcaulfield@marlboropd.org.

For more information about the Speech School, visit this page.