Let It Grow: Portsmouth Police Help Support Child Advocacy Center

If Portsmouth Police officers look a little scruffy during October there's a very good reason.

Officers throughout New Hampshire are participating in the annual Beards for Bucks fundraiser in support of the Granite State Children's Alliance and child advocacy centers around the state. Portsmouth Police are raising funds for the Child Advocacy Center of Rockingham County.

Sgt. Seth Tondreault is one of the officers putting his razor aside for the month as he has seen first hand how the CAC brings calm to a chaotic situation.

"The Child Advocacy Center (CAC) is near and dear to my heart. They are truly invested in protecting our children and providing them safety, comfort, and most notably, advocacy, during difficult and often traumatic times," Tondreault told Seacoast Current. "If growing a beard and raising some money can help them continue their invaluable work, then Portsmouth Police is all in!"

Child Advocacy Centers work in partnership with agencies and specialists to coordinate a plan of action to provide high-quality, specialized services for abused children and their families to heal, survive and thrive.

Over the last six years Beards for Bucks has raised over $655,000. Other departments participating to support the Rockingham County CAC include Candia, Danville, Epping,
Exeter, Greenland, Newfields, Newington, Newmarket, North Hampton, Nottingham, Raymond, Sandown, Seabrook, Stratham and the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office.

Police in Dover, Rochester and Somersworth are supporting the Strafford County CAC.

Tondreault said there's a little competition for beard superiority within the department and with other agencies.

"Internally, you want to have the nicest beard, globally, we want to raise the most money for the CAC. We have some ringers at PPD, guys like Charley Raizes whose jet black beard has mythical powers," Tondreault said.

Beards For Bucks runs until November 1.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNH