Chief Brown poses for picture in pink epaulets, with Chief Cato, Chief Gassaway, and the Media Relations Unit.

Update:  Chief Brown authorized Dallas officers to wear pink epaulets for the entire month of October in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness. The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure is Saturday, October 18, 2014, at 8:00 a.m., at Northpark Center Mall.

The month of October is nationally known as Breast Cancer Awareness Month and police officers across Dallas are making it known that cops care about cancer too.The Black Police Association of Greater Dallas, in conjunction with the Dallas Police Department and the Dallas Independent School District Police, joined forces to raise awareness about cancer, calling their campaign Proud of the Pink.

“The idea came to me late September 2013. I was thinking about a visible way police officers could be more engaged with breast cancer awareness,” said Dallas Police Deputy Chief Malik Aziz, commander of the department’s Support Services Division, and the National Chairman and Executive Director of the National Black Police Association. “I wanted to come up with a small part we could play to ignite conversations about not only breast cancer, but cancer in general.”

Aziz noted that several police officers within the Dallas Police Department have battled cancer. He states, “The goal is not only to show real support for our fellow officers who endure these challenges, but for those who have lost the battle to cancer.”  

This 31-day Proud of the Pink campaign is to express the care and concern that cops have for victims of cancer. Several officers have been affected by this deadly disease to some extent and are willing to do what it takes to bring awareness and raise funds for further research.

For the month of October, Dallas Police Chief David O. Brown and DISD Police Chief Craig Miller have approved officers to don pink epaulets to signify that cops care about cancer too. 

Color-coded epaulets are worn on the shoulders of various police uniforms which represent the officers’ assignment. For example, patrol officers wear green epaulets and traffic officers wear the red epaulets. However, this October, officers have the option to wear pink epaulets to show their solidarity for Breast Cancer Awareness. The epaulets are sold at $8 per pair with 100% of the profits evenly divided and donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

“We are thankful for the Black Police Association, the Dallas Police Department and the Dallas Independent School District Police for joining us in the fight against breast cancer and helping to ensure Dallas County residents have access to life-saving breast health services,” said Jennifer Legere, Executive Director of Komen Dallas County.

The following statement was released by the Prostate Cancer Foundation:

“The Prostate Cancer Foundation is sincerely appreciative of the Black Police Association of Greater Dallas’ commitment to raise funds and awareness in the month of October for the Foundation. We thank the Association for organizing this effort as well as The Dallas Police Department and the Dallas Independent School District Police Department for their participation in this initiative.”

This will mark the first year for Dallas officers to wear pink epaulets…with hopes of making this an annual event.