After No Shave November, Carmel police hope shave-off raises money for a cause
CARMEL, Ind. (WISH) — Give police officers the option to grow a beard, and they’ll most certainly do it.
“I never got to grow a beard in my life cause I was in the Marines, and I’ve been a police officer for 17 years,” said Carmel Police Department school resource officer Shane VanNatter.
“It’s an opportunity for us to kind of relax standards,” said Sgt. D.J. Schoeff.
Well, they’ll at least try to do it.
“I accidentally messed up when I was cutting my hair, so it’s worked its way down to just the goatee area,” said patrolman Ted Gauthier, “My 3-year-old actually gives me a weird look every time he sees me.”
“I find myself on calls looking at their beards going ‘Hmm… you look a lot different today,’” said VanNatter.
Weird looks and all, more than 50 Carmel Police Department officers have some type of facial hair right now.
“It’s interesting to see different beard styles and what people can manage. Some can be grayer than others,” said officer Blake Litle.
“The gray is starting to pop out; my wife’s not a big fan,” said VanNatter.
But each gray hair, every full beard, and even messed up haircut goatee, is contributing to the fight against a disease impacting so many.
“About every three minutes, somebody in the United States is diagnosed with leukemia, and this summer my wife was one of them,” said Major Charlie Harting about his wife of 30 years.
“She got diagnosed on our 30th wedding anniversary,” he said.
Major Harting’s wife, Missy, a teacher for Hamilton Southeastern School, has undergone chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant.
“It’s one of those things that nobody wants to experience, but it’s pulled us closer together, really been blessed by the support from her work,” Harting said.
Each officer who wanted to participate in No Shave November had to give a donation to a fund the Carmel Police Department created to go to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Indiana Chapter. The department’s goal was to raise $5,000. They’ve done that and are hoping to raise more money from a shave-off at Main Street Barber Shop in Carmel from 9 to 11 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 3.
“All of the employees have offered support in so many ways even before this, but to see everyone participating does mean a lot to me,” said Harting.
“It’s wonderful to know that we’re able to help officers in our department,” said VanNatter.