Behind the Badge
The Westminster Police Officers’ Association is getting in the facial hair spirit this November and December.
The union is raising funds and awareness for the Movember Foundation in support of men’s health issues. The name “Movember” is a combination of mustache and November, because the group’s original stunt was to have men grow mustaches throughout the month of November to start a conversation about men’s health.
In 2020, Westminster’s policemen will be continuing the mustache-growing tradition, which will also include growing goatees and full beards, said Rachel Booth, a Movember organizer and forensic services technician.
Those who grow a mustache will donate $25. For goatees, it’s $50 and for beards it’s $100.
Women are also contributing through purchasing blue mustache lapel pins to wear on their collar. Those are $20.
The Westminster Police Officers’ Association is inviting the public to chip in on the effort by buying special Movember patches for $10. To purchase patches, interested parties can contact Booth by emailing RBooth@westminster-ca.gov.
The association’s Movember has been going strong, and growing, for about five years. Last year, the department raised $5,685, according to Booth. That put Westminster in a top 10 fundraiser ranking for law enforcement agencies.
Booth hopes Westminster will surpass that amount this year.
“I think we will,” she said, “especially because we’re selling the Movember patches.”
No in-person Movember fundraising events are planned.
However, at the end of the fundraising period, the participating officers will be part of a selfie photo contest. He who grows the best beard, mustache, or goatee will win the coveted Golden Broom Award.
The award is a bona fide broom that was painted gold. The broom will decorate a wall in the police station for all to see.
