Sacramento, California – A new bill introduced in the California State Senate on Monday would make it a misdemeanor for most law enforcement officers in the state to cover their faces while performing official duties. The proposal, announced by State Senators Scott Wiener of San Francisco and Jesse Arreguin of Berkeley and Oakland, aims to reinforce public trust in law enforcement by requiring officers to be clearly identifiable by both face and uniform.
The legislation would not apply to the National Guard or active military personnel, and it makes exceptions for SWAT operations and emergency responses to natural disasters. However, for most policing scenarios—such as routine patrols, arrests, and public demonstrations—the measure would require visible identification, including name badges or other unique markers.
“We are seeing more and more law enforcement officers, particularly at the federal level, covering their faces entirely, not identifying themselves at all and, at times, even wearing army fatigues,” Wiener said during Monday’s announcement. “We can’t tell if these are law enforcement officers or a vigilante militia.”…