BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WXYZ) — All around the country, men are putting down the razors this month and letting their manes grow wild for "No Shave November."
That includes a metro Detroit police department, raising awareness about men's health issues.
This is the second year Bloomfield Township officers participated in No Shave November. But this year, their efforts started in October with Breast Cancer Awareness, and they won't be shaving until the end January to highlight other causes.
"I've worked here for 28 years, and I've never been allowed to have any facial hair my entire career," said Cpt. Dan Edwards of the Bloomfield Township Police Department.
Captain Edwards says this is a rare sight.
You typically won't find any officer with a beard around Bloomfield Township Police Department. In fact, it's policy to be clean shaven.
But this fall, the beards are in. The chief allowed officers to grow one on two conditions.
First, team up with a charity and have a purpose.
"And our purpose is that we want to humanize the face of law enforcement. And we want this to be a conversation starter out in the community," said Cpt. Edwards.
A conversation about men's health is what No Shave November is all about, encouraging men to take control of their health and preventative care.
Edwards says in order to stop shaving, each officer has to donate to a charity. So the department teamed up with the Michigan Institute of Urology, or MIU Men's Health Foundation.
"So, one of the reasons Men's Health Month is so important is because it's another reminder for men to step up and November is so important because it's a reminder for men to step up and take control of their health and their lives," said Michael Lutz, MD with the MIU Men's Health Foundation. "So we are encouraging men during this month of November, before the year runs out, before they've exhausted all their co-pays and deductibles to take advantage of getting healthier, pay attention to their health and well-being, go get checked, start an exercise program, start eating in a more righteous way to improve their health and well-being as they step into 2021."
The doctor says officers or any job that requires working odd shift times can take a toll on health as well, because it can affect sleep and changes metabolic rates.
