California State Senators Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and Jesse Arreguin (D-Berkeley) have introduced a bill to prohibit law enforcement officers from wearing masks while working in the state.
SB 627, “The No Secret Police Act,” also requires officers to be identifiable via their uniform, whether with name or other identifier, according to a press release from Wiener’s office.
The bill exempts SWAT operators as well as medical grade masks (surgical or N95, pursuant to a departmental health policy) and masks designed to protect against exposure to smoke during a state of emergency related to wildfires.
“The recent federal operations in California have created an environment of profound terror. If we want the public to trust law enforcement, we cannot allow them to behave like secret police in an authoritarian state,” said Wiener. “Law enforcement officers do critically important work to keep our communities safe, and they should be proud to show their faces and provide identifying information when doing so. It boosts trust in law enforcement, which makes it easier for law enforcement to do their jobs and makes California safer for all of us.”
Officers say the mask to protect themselves and their families from off-duty attacks and cybercrime.
The bill defines law enforcement officers as any officer of a local, state, or federal law enforcement agency, or any person acting on behalf of a local, state, or federal law enforcement agency. A violation of the bill’s prohibition is punishable as a misdemeanor.
