Sheriff's Office

For Immediate Release

PR #: 2000040
Date Issued: Apr 05, 2020 - 12:35pm

Sheriff Balaam re-institutes No Shave charitable giving campaign as a way to aid our community during hard times, but don't expect to see the beards for a while

CONTACT: Bob Harmon
Washoe County Sheriff's Office
Office 775-785-6235
Cell 775-722-5517

With many people in the Washoe County community beginning to feel an impact from the COVID-19 pandemic, Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam is proud to announce that he has re-instituted his office's No Shave charitable giving campaign. "No Shave" is a way for Sheriff's Office staff to give aid to those in need - but don't expect to see any beards until after the current health emergency is over.

Here's how the No Shave campaign works: in exchange for a charitable donation of $25, Sheriff Balaam has authorized male deputies to grow facial hair outside standard grooming policy. Female deputies are authorized to have relaxed hair standards and civilians may either take advantage of the relaxed grooming standards, or wear jeans or hats.

Sheriff's Office staff have already raised more than $2,400 in the current effort. However, because beards are known to interfere with personal protective gear, such as masks, deputies won't begin to grow their beards until after the health emergency is over.

"One of our deputies suggested using this tried and true campaign as a way for the Sheriff's Office family to assist our community during these times," Sheriff Balaam said. "I immediately agreed because so many staff members were already asking how they could support their fellow county residents."

The Sheriff's Office initiated the No Shave campaign in October 2019. In the four years since, Sheriff's Office staff have donated more than $96,000 to a variety of community non-profits, including Susan G. Komen, Renown Men's Health Center, Northern Nevada Children's Cancer Foundation, Awaken Reno, Nevada Cancer Coalition, Northern Nevada COPS (Concerns of Police Survivors), Special Olympics Northern Nevada, the Brittany Hartzell Baguley Memorial Scholarship Fund, and HOPES.

Photo: Washoe County Sheriff Deputy Gomez sanitizes his hands after contributing to the No Shave campaign just re-instituted by Sheriff Balaam. The No Shave campaign is a way for Sheriff's Office staff to help Washoe County residents in need. However, deputies won't begin growing their beards until after the health emergency is over because beards are known to interfere with personal protective gear such as masks.

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The Washoe County Sheriff's Office is dedicated to preserving a safe and secure community with professionalism, respect, integrity and the highest commitment to equality. Sheriff Darin Balaam is the 27th person elected to serve as the Sheriff of Washoe County since the Office was created in 1861. The Washoe County Sheriff's Office strives to ensure public safety by building trust and creating partnerships within the diverse communities in which we serve. We will promote the dignity of all people supported by our words and actions through open communication while fostering an environment of professionalism, integrity and mutual respect.

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