Annapolis Officers Retiring their Razors & Putting on Polish

Nearly everyone has been touched by cancer that’s why for the second year in a row the Annapolis Police Department is participating in No Shave November.  Officers and civilian employees have made donations to the Annapolis-based charity, the Rev. Callie Johnson Matthews Scholarship Fund, for the chance to let their hair grow or paint their fingernails blue in a way not normally permitted by our regulations.
 
No Shave November was started as an awareness campaign about cancer.  People are encouraged to let their hair grow and donate the money typically spent on shaving or grooming to a cause that educates about cancer prevention and/or aids those battling cancer.  This year the Annapolis Police Department wanted to make sure the female employees could join in by allowing blue fingernail polish, usually only clear polish is allowed.
 
The Reverend Callie Johnson Matthews Scholarship Fund was created in honor of Rev. Callie Matthews who passed in 2013 from breast cancer.  The Scholarship has been awarded to students who are pursuing a degree in childhood education or attending seminary. For the coming cycle of scholarships they are seeking out youth whose moms are battling cancer and can't fully support sending their children to college.
 
Annapolis Police Chief Scott Baker has authorized officers and employees to participate in No Shave November.  The beards started growing November 1^st and must be well-groomed and removed by December 1st.  Each of the 39 participants donated at least $30 to the Rev. Callie Johnson Matthews Scholarship Fund. 
 
Employees not growing beards and the public are also encouraged to donate money to this important cause.  Anyone wishing to make a donation can do so directly to the Rev. Callie Johnson Matthews Scholarship Fund through this link http://www.revcalliecares.org/donate.