Toccoa Police Let Their Hair Grow For Good Cause

By Charlie Bauder, WNEG Radio, Toccoa

It is Movember and some Toccoa police officers are growing beards, goatees, and moustaches all for a good cause.

The Movember movement is an international fund raising event during the month of November. (https://us.movember.com/about/foundation)

During November, men wear moustaches or beards to raise awareness and money to fight cancer in men.

But other cancer groups have also adopted the practice.

Toccoa Police Chief Tim Jarrell Says that starting this month and continuing for the next several months, the police department has waived its policies slightly to allow officers to grow facial hair.

Jarrell says it’s their Relay for Life project for the American Cancer Society.

“Officers are donating $5 every Friday that goes to the American Cancer Society,” said Jarrell. “In return, they can grow a beard or facial hair

Jarrell says there are still rules to ensure that any facial hair is well-kept and groomed properly.

He says they plan to continue allowing the facial hair through may, when Stephens county hosts its annual Relay For Life event to benefit the American Cancer Society.

The chief says a number of officers are participating in this fundraiser.

“Currently, we have 10 officers who have already begun,” said Jarrell. “We have 3 or 4 more that are wanting to, but are debating about when they want to begin. We are expecting to be able to raise somewhere between $1100 and $1500.”

Jarrell says the department is considering taking photos of all the participating officers at the end of the fundraiser and allowing people to vote on which beard they like in a number of different categories, but that has not been finalized.