A Fuzzy Feeling: Wood County deputies, Vienna police officers participate in No-Shave November
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PARKERSBURG -- Local residents may have noticed that normally clean faced law enforcement officers have had a beard growing on their face during the month of November.
The Wood County Sheriff's Office and the Vienna Police Department teamed up to bring awareness to the sexual and physical child abuse that plagues the community.
No-Shave November is an annual charity event where men don't shave, groom, or cut their facial hair for the entire month of November as a way of raising awareness for a chosen charity. The most important part of No-Shave November is the charity aspect. Money that would normally go toward grooming activities like shaving gel, razors, haircuts, and so on is instead supposed to be donated to a chosen charity. If one is asked about their new facial hair, they are expected to explain why they are not shaving for the month, particularly as it relates to child abuse, for the purpose of spreading awareness.
No-Shave November was instituted somewhat differently by the two local law enforcement agencies, in order to fit their ideas of what would be appropriate for their officers to have the event.
"I worked with both Chief (Mike) Pifer and Sheriff (Rick) Woodyard in the Parkersburg Narcotics Task Force, I know that this wasn't easy for them to agree to," said Greg Collins, Executive Director of The Children's Listening Place Child Advocacy Center (CLP).
Through funds raised by officers for No-Shave November, the Vienna Police Department gave CLP $610, and the Wood County Sheriff's Office presented them with $410.
"To have these two law enforcement agencies saying we believe in what you are doing, and that child abuse can't be tolerated in Wood County is very empowering. We appreciate both agencies for what they have done for us. They get it," said Collins.
The officers of both departments were required to be well groomed rather than the usual refraining from any hair trimming, cutting, or grooming that is seen from No-Shave November. The second difference was the supporting of something that was critical and important in the community if it was going to be done. That's where CLP and the awareness of child abuse came in, Collins said.
"We come from a different generation of officers where you absolutely don't have a beard in uniform. I think their desire to constantly improve the moral of their officers combined with the chance to support a non-profit that is fighting child abuse daily in our communities created the perfect timing for this to happen," he said.
"I don't think people are aware of how bad it is regarding child abuse in our area," said Pifer. "The Children's Listening Place sees more children in the course of a year than any other child advocacy center in the State of West Virginia, and 75% of their cases from a five-county area are in Wood County. Think about that for a minute," continued Pifer. "This was an opportunity to address one of the biggest problems we face here and improve the moral of the officers that are going out and fighting for our community every day. It's a win-win," he said.
CLP is a non-profit organization that interviews and advocates for children and non-offending family members of physical and sexual abuse, and severe neglect. CLP is a child and family friendly center. It's a child's alternative to sitting in a police department, Child Protective Services office, or an emergency room.
All needed services are provided under one roof. Law enforcement and CPS come to CLP, and they work together as a team, conducting one interview, so the child is not revictimized by telling their story over and over. CLP then continues to provide services to that child for as long as it takes.
Of the 21 other child advocacy centers in West Virginia, CLP is one of only three that provides in-house medical examinations for the child. Without this benefit, the child would have to be transported to Bridgeport, Morgantown, or Charleston to get the forensic medical exam.
As a non-profit organization with countless moving parts, CLP relies on the help of others to support this mission - restoring lives of children who have been abused. All operating money comes from grants, foundations, and donations, Collins said.
Contributions will provide developmentally appropriate, non-leading forensic interviews, therapy sessions that help children begin to heal, hours for our advocates to make sure families are safe and supported through their crisis, and medical exams and supplies.
"This is one of the worst crimes that is happening in Wood County," said Woodyard. "Its time to be more proactive and start attacking child crimes. These are the future adults of our community," added Woodyard. "CLP sees over 600 kids a year and they are some of the worst stories you can imagine. We had an opportunity here to raise the moral of the deputies and show CLP we see the work you are doing and its very important," he said.