Sheriff Craig Webre announced a policy change to allow beards year-round after deputies raised thousands of dollars in charitable donations in November and December. A bulk of the donations were collected for the American Cancer Society and Special Olympics Louisiana, but deputies also raised money for more than 20 other nonprofit organizations.
“In recent years, we have been allowing deputies to pay $25 to grow a beard during these winter months to help some worthwhile causes,” said Sheriff Webre. “After what we’ve been through in the past two years, I figured there are plenty of great causes to allow this to continue all year. So, I am changing No Shave November into No Shave Forever.”
Beginning January 1, 2022, deputies who wish to maintain a beard will donate $20 per month to charity. As an alternative, anyone wishing to donate without growing a beard will be allowed to dress more casually on Fridays if their position allows.
Traditionally, many law enforcement agencies only allowed officers to grow mustaches but no beards. This new Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office policy to allow beards aligns with many law enforcement agencies throughout the country as they seek to look more like the populations they serve.
“Beards have become more commonplace and accepted in our society, even in professional settings,” said Sheriff Webre. “The public has had a positive reception to our deputies’ beards. I’ve even received positive comments myself, so I will be participating along with many deputies, and it’s all for great causes.”
During the months of November and December 2021, deputies raised $2,595 for the American Cancer Society and $1,260 for Special Olympics Louisiana. This is part of the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office overall fundraising efforts for Relay for Life and the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, respectively.
This year, deputies were also allowed to donate to a charity of their choosing. This led to donations to 22 other charities. Those charities included the following:
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
- American Red Cross
- Bless Your Heart Nonprofit
- CharityWatch
- Children’s Defense Fund
- C.O.P.S. (Concerns of Police Survivors)
- Crossroads Pregnancy Resource Center
- Do Good Farm
- Friends of Beyond the Bell
- Hail Mary Rescue
- Holidays at the Hospital
- Lafourche Civic Association
- Louisiana SPCA
- National Fallen Officer Foundation
- National Shrine of St. Jude
- Operation BBQ Relief
- Operation Homefront
- Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation
- St. Genevieve Catholic School
- St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
- Wheelchairs for Warriors
- Wounded Warrior Project