Walnutport police officers may appear a bit scruffy these days, but it’s all by design.

That’s because many officers of the department are growing out a beard to raise money for charity.

Police Chief Pete Wayda told borough council on Thursday that officers have been participating in No Shave November for the second year in a row.

Now, Wayda said officers will have the opportunity to keep their beards for Double Down December.

Wayda said that this year, the department will use the money that’s raised to help a young girl with breast cancer.

To date, he said the initiative has raised $300.

Wayda told council that by Jan. 1, all the officers will be clean shaven.

Chief praised for “heroic” efforts

Also on Thursday, Councilman David Stankovic lauded Wayda for a “heroic thing he did” Wednesday at Thomson’s Meat Market in Walnutport.

Stankovic said there was a man inside the business who was cardiac arrest, and praised Wayda for the good job that he did.

“It takes a strong person to do what you did,” Stankovic said.

After the meeting, Wayda told a reporter he performed CPR on the man, with the assistance of the man’s son.

He said that Northern Valley Ambulance Association, Slatington Police, and the Walnutport Public Works Department also assisted at the scene.

Road crew thanked

In an unrelated matter, resident Earl Snyder thanked the borough road crew for the “outstanding job they did on the roads” in the aftermath of Wednesday’s storm.

Council President William Turk also thanked road foreman Michael Wentz “and your crew for the job you did.”