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Article submitted by Huron Township Department of Public Safety
Posted Oct. 7, 2020

Huron Township Police Department policy does not allow for officers, reserve officers, and dispatch staff to wear beards while in uniform. However, if you see a Huron Township Police Officer sporting a beard over the next few months, they are not breaking the rules. The Police Department has decided to participate in No Shave November to support our annual Shop with a Hero Program. Each Officer will donate money to the event to allow the opportunity to grow a beard this holiday season. Officers will be allowed to begin wearing beards on October 1st, 2020.

To make this even better, we want to get our residents involved. On the evening of our Shop with a Hero event, we will have a best beard contest. The best beard contest will be judged by residents on our Facebook page. The winning beard (Officer) will once again win a free night off from work to be worked by Director of Public Safety Everette Robbins.

Unfortunately, due to safety standards relating to the use of equipment, our firefighters cannot participate by growing facial hair. However, we do not want to leave them out of this since they are a crucial part of our Shop with a hero event. So, we are offering the residents the opportunity to “adopt a firefighter” for this event. For a donation of $50 towards our Shop with a Hero event, a resident can grow a beard and support the fire department. At the Shop with a Hero event, we will have a separate beard contest for those that adopted a firefighter. The contest will be judged by members of our fire staff. The winner of this contest will receive their choice of a ride to work, as local as possible, or their child to be taken to school in a fire truck. Those interested in adopting a firefighter can drop their payment off at the Huron Township Police Department in care of Director Robbins or donate to our Go Fund Me page that supports the Shop with a Hero Program. Please be sure to note on the Go Fund Me page that your donation is towards the “adopt a firefighter” program. The Go Fund Me page will become active on November 1st, 2020.

Last year, No Shave November raised more than $1800 towards the Shop with a Hero Program.

“I think this is a fun way for our departments and the residents to come together for a great cause. Our Shop with a Hero Program is special because it is funded by the big hearts in our community. What better reason to come together than making the Christmas season special for some deserving children? No kid should ever wake up without a Christmas,” said Everette Robbins, director of public safety. “Our public safety staff approach me on a regular basis and ask how they can get more involved with and help our community. This is a great way to bring everyone together. They have a tough job some days and it is fun to see them come together and have a little fun for a good cause.”