Cops unite in hairless solidarity
Published: February 25, 2008
When Officer Eric Schultz started losing his hair from chemo treatment a few weeks ago, he never imagined it would result in the unity he saw Saturday.
Sitting in large classroom at Wauconda High School, Schultz watched as dozens of fellow officers joined him in hair-less solidarity.
For the 23-year-old Wauconda officer it was one of the brighter moments of a whirlwind winter that’s included an osteosarcoma (a form of bone cancer) diagnosis in November and amputation of his right foot earlier this month.
“I never expected a huge event like this,” Schultz said. “It’s made it much easier to go through the treatment. It’s great.”
More than 70 people - the majority police officers from Wauconda and surrounding communities - shaved their heads at WHS Saturday to support Schultz and benefit the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which raises money for pediatric cancer.
The scene resembled a highly-efficient barber shop, or maybe a military salon. Seven at a time, lush-haired officers were shorn. Nearly as fast as they sat down their locks were cut and they were sent on their way, rubbing newly-chromed domes as the next officer took a seat.
Getting a cut was a no-brainer, said Wauconda detective Keith Ringham, who was one of 13 village police officers to shave his head Saturday.
“It’s important to be there for (Schultz),” Ringham said. “It shows the unity between police officers.”
Wauconda police were joined by officers from neighboring Island Lake and from the Algonquin Police Department. Even recruits from the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy took part. The academy’s most popular current student, Lake County Sheriff’ Mark Curran, shaved his head for the first time in his adult life.
While his 8-year-old son, George looked on and criticized the new do, Curran said he was happy to show support for another officer.
“It’s the nature of law enforcement,” Curran said. “When one is in trouble, you rally around them.”
Some women even got in on the action. Johnna Garrett, a dispatcher at Wauconda cut 10 inches of her jet black hair to donate to Locks of Love, which uses the hair to make wigs for chemo patients.
By the end of the day more than 70 heads had been shaved, and Wauconda police raised an estimated $18,000, which was well above the initial goal of $5,000, said Deputy Chief Patrick Yost.
In a few months the story will get even better. When treatment is complete Schultz is expected to be fitted for a prosthetic foot, and will likely rejoin the force.
“Everyone’s support has just been huge,” Schultz said.
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