Jess crops top cop

As a police reporter you could say I was delighted when my name was called out to shave the head of our top cop — South West district superintendent Lawrence Panaia — in Saturday’s World Greatest Shave.

The next feeling I had was one of absolute horror.

You couldn’t exactly say I was an expert in the field of hairdressing.

In fact, my only experience in cutting hair was mutilating the locks of my Barbie Dolls when I was seven.

But Supt Panaia, in his wisdom, seemed to trust me enough to give it a go.

As I took the clippers from the hairdresser on stage at the Bunbury Forum event, I could see my hands quivering.

I was glad the super was looking the other way because I don’t think my shakes would conjure confidence in my hairdressing ability.

I began by shaving away at the sides leaving the top for some momentary amusement for spectators.

He said, as a police officer he always had to have a ‘‘respectable’’ haircut so I gave him the haircut he’d always wanted — a mohawk.

After we had our fun, it was off with the rest, and I mean all of it.

Even the gov’s eyebrows weren’t safe in World’s Greatest Shave, but it was all for a good cause and one which earned him about $1500 for the fundraiser.

Supt Panaia was also joined onstage by Bunbury man Luke Howe.

He was the South West’s major fundraiser adding more than $5000 to the Leukaemia Foundation’s appeal.