Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office shows its support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month with new pink gear

The Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office is showing its support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month by sporting new pink gear and honoring staff members who have fought breast cancer.

Throughout the month of October, sworn staff are authorized to wear pink Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office badges and patches on their uniforms. The VBSO is also providing each civilian staff member with a pink ribbon pin to wear. This is the first time that the VBSO has authorized pink uniform items, with the goal of supporting breast cancer survivors and raising awareness about the impact that breast cancer has on millions of people around the world.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the United States. In 2022, an estimated 7,600 Virginians were diagnosed with the disease, ranking Virginia 12th out of the 50 states, according to the American Cancer Society. The society estimates that 1,150 Virginians died of breast cancer during the same period.

The Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office plans to honor deputies we have lost to the disease and survivors later this month.

"Breast cancer is a deadly disease, especially if not caught early, and the Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office wants to educate our team members and the public about the importance of annual mammograms for early detection," Virginia Beach Sheriff Ken Stolle said. "We also want to support survivors, raise awareness and promote research to cure this horrible disease. We are proud to wear pink this month in support of this important cause and in solidarity with other law enforcement agencies who have led the way."

The VBSO is providing the pink patches to deputies free-of-charge. They may also purchase pink badges for $50 at-cost and VBSO challenge coins for $4 each at-cost. This effort was spearhead by Nick Bock, head of the VBSO's Uniform Shop.

The American Cancer Society started Breast Cancer Awareness Month in 1985 in conjunction with Imperial Chemical Industries' pharmaceutical division (later AstraZeneca). Former U.S. First Lady Betty Ford, a breast cancer survivor, helped kick off the weeklong campaign. The pink ribbon that has come to symbolize the fight against breast cancer debuted in 1992 thanks to cosmetic giant Estée Lauder, which handed out 1.5 million of them.

Any questions or requests for additional information from the news media may be directed to Public Information Officers Toni Guagenti at tguagenti@vbso.net or 757-385-8446 or Kathy Hieatt at khieatt@vbso.net or 757-570-9123.