Pink is the new gold when it comes to police badges

MUKILTEO — Flashing a badge just got flashier.

Law enforcement officers nationwide are sporting pink badges for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The Mukilteo Police Department pinked up the shields for the first time this year. Officers who chose to participate paid for the specialty badges out of their own pockets, about $70. A portion goes to cancer research.

“It’s a conversation starter,” Chief Cheol Kang said. “It stands out. We stand up for the fight against breast cancer.”

Officers got to show off their badges at a recent “Coffee with a Cop” at Starbucks, which included free doughnuts for residents wanting to chat with the men and women in blue — and pink.

Zul Govani of Mukilteo suggested Kang take it up a notch.

“His hair. Maybe he should color it pink,” Govani said.

“I’m going to stick with the badge for now,” Kang said.

Kang sees the badge as an opportunity for discussion.

“I think probably everyone around here can say that one of their friends, family, loved ones has been affected by breast cancer,” he said.

In the United States, one in eight women will develop invasive breast cancer in their lifetime. The risk of breast cancer in men is about one in 1,000.

In the center of the badge is a logo with pink handcuffs to unlock the cure. Kang and his force don’t have real pink handcuffs to match.

“I don’t think that’s something we’ve looked into,” he said.

Some districts are pinking up the police cruisers and bikes with vinyl wraps.

Sgt. Shaun Greenmun said his pink badge has drawn interest from peers.

“I was at a training yesterday and officers from other agencies were interested. They said, ‘Oh, man, maybe we should start doing that,’” he said.

Greenmun has a “Real Men Wear Pink” T-shirt he wears off the job.

Mukilteo firefighters are wearing pink T-shirts this month while on duty.

Local police departments wearing pink badges include Arlington, Lake Stevens and Mill Creek. If you get pulled over by a Washington State Patrol trooper this month, you might see a pink shield after the flashing red lights. This is also the third year members of the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office have worn pink badges.

Badges are paid for by the individuals, not taxpayers.

Hairy faces are next. For No-Shave November and Movember, guys forego shaving and get hairy to raise awareness for men’s health issues such as prostate and testicular cancers.

Arlington police started a month early, with the chief waiving the department’s policy of being clean-shaven for any officer who donates money to support breast cancer research.

Andrea Brown: abrown@heraldnet.com; 425-339-3443. Twitter @reporterbrown.