Chief James Sartell is pleased to announce that members of the Townsend Police Department will be participating in the No Shave November fundraiser next month to raise money in honor of the son of a local police officer who was diagnosed with a rare genetic mutation.
Over the course of the month, members of the Townsend Police Department will be given an exemption from the department’s grooming policy and be allowed to grow a beard as part of the fundraising effort. This year, officers will be raising money for the STXBP1 Encephalopathy Foundation, which helps to raise awareness and find a cure for the rare genetic mutation, on behalf of Pepperell Police Officer Justin Zink and his family.
Officer Zink’s newborn son, Reece, was diagnosed with the disorder, which often causes complications like seizures, developmental delays, ataxia, limited speech, difficulty walking, difficulty eating and more.
Donations can be made to the Townsend Police Department’s fundraiser by clicking here.
“We are proud to support Officer Zink and his family through our annual No Shave November program,” Chief Sartell said, “and are committed to raising money and awareness for such a worthy cause over the course of the month.”
Anyone who would like to donate to the Zink family can do so by visiting the GoFundMe page linked here.