Hairy cops raise money for Jaycox Police Benevolent Fund

Facial hair is sprouting among the officers of the Gig Harbor Police Department this month.

For good reason, though. These “hairy cops” are raising money for the Jaycox Police Benevolent Fund.

Police Chief Kelly Busey agreed to relax department rules on facial hair for the month of January in exchange for those officers who decide to ditch their razor and make a voluntary donation to the fund.

“Officers have been wanting to grow facial hair, and our policy has been only mustaches,” Busey said, adding that about half of the force has participated in the fundraiser.

The Jaycox Police Benevolent Fund is a nonprofit organization that provides scholarships for local students, sponsors community events, volunteer activities and helps crime victims.

The fund was created in the memory of Loren and Lillian Jaycox, following a $10,000 donation from Lillian upon her death.

So far, these “hairy cops” have raised $250 dollars for the fund, according to Busey, who is considering it becoming a yearly fundraising event.

While the relaxed rules have been popular, they are by no means permanent.

“I like our department to be clean shaven,” Busey said.

For more information on the Jaycox Police Benevolent Fund, visit www.cityofgigharbor.net/jaycox-police-benevolent-fund or call (253) 851-2236.

This story was originally published January 13, 2016 at 10:24 AM with the headline "Hairy cops raise money for Jaycox Police Benevolent Fund."