This October, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, all of the officers at the Greenfield Police Department changed their collar pins to pink and white pins that read “ARREST BREAST CANCER – UNLOCK THE CURE” surrounded by pink ribbon and pink handcuffs. Some officers also replaced their silver, on-duty handcuffs with pink handcuffs, to be used throughout the workday.

Do you see any contradictions between a police department trying to demonstrate concern for women’s health while using tools, such as handcuffs, associated with the carceral state?

Ryan Trowbridge, “Greenfield police officers going pink for breast cancer awareness,” Western Mass News (October 1, 2015; updated November 12, 2015).