People in Trumbull and Mahoning counties and beyond since the start of November have likely noticed some men in law enforcement look a little different.

Many are taking part in No-Shave November, an effort to raise money for cancer.

For the first time, officers with the Canfield Police Department have taken an oath to maintain a trimmed beard and raise money, said Chief Chuck Colucci.

“They have always petitioned me to participate,” Colucci said. This year, along with city and department administration, parameters were set so that the officers could take part, which has been met with gratitude.

“The guys love it. They feel cool,” Colucci said. “It’s a forbidden fruit” to grow facial hair, Sgt. Josh Wells added.

Wells said after some networking and research, the department decided on teaming up with the nonprofit ZERO – The End of Prostate Cancer.

The department ancitipates reaching its $1,000 goal this month.

In Struthers, meanwhile, officers with the city’s police department have been generating money to go toward prostate cancer research at Mercy Health.

This is the third year for the department, and most of the guys enjoy the month-long, face-shaving reprieve.

For some, it’s a matter of convenience in their pre-shift routine.

“I like not shaving. I grow (a beard) as we speak,” said officer Khaled Abu-Hannam of his slightly bearded face.

Officer James Ritter explained that in Struthers, anyone wanting to participate simply used a sign-up sheet.

“Whoever wanted to do it put their name on it and donated 30 bucks for the cause,” he said, which breaks down to $1 a day.

Last year, the department generated about $400 and hopes to exceed that this year.

Although most men have jumped at the chance to grow a beard this month, it doesn’t mean everyone has enjoyed the process.

For officer Louis Rossi, the discomfort while his beard grew in the very beginning was a bit more than he would have liked.

“It was too itchy,” he said, adding that he was previously in the military and in the police academy, so he is used to his usual fresh-faced appearance.

“Now that we’re allowed to grow (a beard), that itch was new to me. I couldn’t do it,” Rossi said.

Police Chief Tim Roddy said that three years ago when the department began taking part in No-Shave November, community members would comment, being used to seeing officers clean-cut.

Since then, “I think the whole cause has gained steam” so people expect it, he said.

Beards must be groomed, Roddy said. The beards have to come off on Dec. 1.

Law enforcement in Trumbull County is also taking part in No-Shave November.

Maj. Daniel Mason with the Trumbull County Sheriff’s office said the deputies in the Trumbull County jail have been able to grow beards this month.

There are 21 guys participating for $10 this month, generating money to benefit the Justin Leo Scholarship Fund.

The TCSO has been participating in the campaign for years, but it is now met with more enthusiasm, Mason said, as current administration has mandated that all faces be kept beard-free.

“A lot of people enjoy a reprieve from the policy for the month period,” he said.

Many of the guys might be holding their own contests, Mason said.

In Canfield, that is the case, Wells said. At the end of the month, the best beard will be informally recognized.