Each November, the razors at the Lynbrook Police Department go quiet.
This year marks the third annual No-Shave November for the department, a month-long tradition that lets officers grow their facial hair in exchange for donations to a charitable cause.
“It’s a morale booster for the guys. They have a good time with it, and they’re raising money for something good,” said Lt. Anthony Falsitta, who helps coordinate the initiative. “You’ll notice every November, if you see cops around, all of a sudden, they have mustaches.”
Officers who participate contribute about $50 for the opportunity to set aside department appearance standards and grow beards throughout the month. The Lynbrook Police Benevolent Association matches the total raised, with all proceeds donated to a designated charity or family in need.
This year’s fundraiser supports two Lynbrook residents with cancer, Aryn Quinlant, 4, who was diagnosed with leukemia, and Kimberly Nugent, 10, who was diagnosed with medulloblastoma. Quinlant is the daughter of a Lynbrook officer, Jeremiah, and was recently diagnosed with leukemia. A department-wide event on November 7 will raise money to assist the family during her treatment.
“It’s a close-to-home one,” Falsitta said.
In past years, the department’s efforts benefited charities such as Operation Santa Sled, a statewide organization helping police families in hardship, and “Love, Nana,” a Lynbrook-based nonprofit that provides gently used baby clothing and inclusive job training programs. Paladino said the department raised about $1,500 last year.
The department also uses the event to spark conversations about men’s health and mental wellness.
“I would say right now the biggest misconception is mental health, especially within our field, and we’re still trying to navigate it,” Falsitta said. “But it’s been spoken about a lot within the last five years compared to what it was prior to that.”
For Chief Brian Paladino, those discussions are essential in a profession that often equates strength with silence.
“It’s something people in our profession have a hard time with. There’s a lot of strong minded people in our profession, and admitting they have a problem or admitting they have weaknesses… That’s not what we’re trained to do,” Paladino said. “But the reality is you have weaknesses, whether it’s physically or mentally, and it takes a toll.”
He acknowledged that police work can weigh heavily on officers — and that in the past, stigma and fear of repercussions prevented many from seeking help.
“There had been a stereotype and a fear that you basically have to lose your job,” Paladino said. “That’s changed in a lot of ways. We’re trying to get that message out, but then there’s still just the old standard of that you try to be tough, try to eat it up and move on.”
Falsitta echoed that message, noting that the profession’s mental strain is compounded by personal pressures.
“That’s the goal,” he said. “But it still comes down to the individual, which is the tough part. And a lot of it not only stems from work, but we’re humans. We have family lives outside work, so sometimes that is combined with what’s going on at work.”
By December 1, the razors will return, and Paladino might even reprise his tradition of filming himself shaving off his beard— something he first did two years ago to mark the campaign’s close.
Local fundraisers, from football games to barbeques and car washes, have drawn widespread participation. Falsitta said that community members often donate directly once they see the department’s social media posts.
“The Lynbrook village has always supported the police department throughout the year,” he said. “So we’re hoping this will be another great year.”
