Oneida Police Give Up Shaving To Give Back To Oneida Boy

Oneida police are giving up shaving to give back to Kadyn Depasquale, the 5 year-old boy who lost his family in a car crash.

Members of the Police Department will be allowed to "grow a presentable beard or goatee" according to Oneida PBA President Steven Lowell. Officers will donate $30 to participate in 'No Shave November' and all money raised will be donated to Kadyn.

Kadyn is the 5 year-old boy who called 9-1-1 after a crash claimed the life of his mother and sister, showing more bravery than most adults.

Ellen Caswell lost control of her vehicle August 16th, hitting a utility pole. She died at the scene and her 10 year-old daughter Kelsey, was taken to the hospital where she later died from her injuries.

Canastota Police Chief Jim Zophy believed Kadyn was asleep at the time of the crash. “He woke up and got out of his car seat, checked his mother and sister, then somehow found his mother’s phone, in the dark among all the wreckage.” Kadyn used that phone, with it’s battery dying, to call his father, then dial 9-1-1, to direct authorities to the scene of the crash.

“He didn’t cry. He didn’t panic. He was able to think and complete a task he knew he needed to do, at five years old. I don’t know of anybody in that situation, or even most men that would lose a child in a car accident and be able to think clearly enough in that amount of time to summon help,” says Zophy.

Anyone interested in making a donation may do so by contacting the P.B.A. at police headquarters. You can also contribute to Kadyn’s scholarship by sending checks to: