Cruising against cancer

Posted October 6, 2012

Christiansburg Police Chief Mark Sisson displays the department's specially-marked patrol car honoring Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Travis Williams | The Burgs

CHRISTIANSBURG — Many of Christiansburg’s boys in blue will be donning a contrasting color this month with hopes that the public takes notice.

On Wednesday, the Christiansburg Police Department kicked off its first-ever Campaign Against Cancer by unveiling special police badges and a police cruiser, both highlighted in pink — the official color of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

“We all know someone who has been impacted, who has had cancer, breast cancer, not just in our families, but in our work families and our relationships, so it’s very important for us to bring awareness to this,” Police Chief Mark Sisson said.

Sisson said the department hoped to not only bring moral support to citizens affected by this disease, but also to provide them with financial support.

To do so, not only will officers be encouraged to wear the patch on their left sleeve throughout October, but patches will also be made available to the public for a $10 donation.

Sisson said that because all the money for the patches was donated, 100 percent of the proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society via the department’s Relay for Life Team, “Heroes Helping Heroes.”

Sisson said all Christiansburg personnel assigned to Virginia Tech’s Oct. 13 football game against Duke University, which he estimated at 20 officers, will be wearing the patches.

The patrol car, marked with decals courtesy of Signarama, will be used on regular patrols throughout the month and displayed at various special events.

The chief admitted the movement was a little bit different, but his hope is that difference catches the attention of the town.

“This is a little unconventional, we know that, but many times you have to be unconventional to gain the interest from citizenry and other people,” Sisson said.

The idea was not his own, he said, but one that Sgt. Darren Epperly and Lt. Tim Brown presented to him about a year ago.

Sisson said he told the two men to run with it.

And run with it they did, creating a campaign fellow officer Sgt. Curtis Brown described as a great way to support a community that has supported them through some very hard times.

“In 20 years, this is the best thing I’ve seen,” Brown said.

By Travis Williams
The Roanoke Times | 381-1643