Hot Pink Badge Added to Meeker County Sheriff’s Uniform to Support Breast Cancer Awareness

During the month of October, you will notice something a little different about the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office Uniform.

Rather than wearing the traditional gold star-shaped badge, they will instead be wearing a badge that is hot pink, not exactly typical for a law enforcement officer’s uniform.

The reason for the unusual accessory is as a show of support for those in the community and beyond who are battling breast cancer, according to a news release.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

According to the American Cancer Society, more than 231,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer are diagnosed each year. More than 40,000 U.S. women die of the disease each year, with only lung cancer causing more female deaths.

When breast cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, however, the five-year survival rate is 98 percent.

Inspired by the recent loss of an aunt to breast cancer, Deputy Marc Berris proposed the idea of wearing the pink badge to Sheriff Brian Cruze, who immediately supported it.

“All of us know someone whose life has been impacted by breast cancer,” Cruze said in a statement.

“Wearing the pink badges is a way for us to show support for those members of our community who are battling the disease, and to raise awareness about the benefits of early detection.”

Cruze will be wearing a pink badge himself and he said that the overwhelming majority of his deputies have purchased the pink badges and will be wearing them as well.

Images via Office of the Meeker County Sheriff