Sacramento, California – California lawmakers are considering a new proposal that could transform how law enforcement operates in public. Senate Bill 627, also known as the No Secret Police Act, would prohibit officers at all levels—local, state, or federal—from covering their faces or concealing identifying information while conducting operations in California. The bill is rooted in concerns about federal overreach, public accountability, and rising instances of impersonation.
Introduced by Senators Scott Wiener and Jesse Arreguín, the legislation seeks to end what they describe as secretive and authoritarian tactics increasingly deployed by federal agencies—particularly those involved in immigration enforcement. In recent years, agents in California have conducted raids wearing nondescript uniforms, covering their faces, and withholding names or badge numbers. These operations, sometimes executed without clear jurisdictional coordination, have heightened public fears and eroded trust in law enforcement institutions.
If passed, SB 627 would make it a misdemeanor for officers to hide their identities during non-exempt operations. Exceptions would include SWAT teams, protective face coverings during wildfires or health emergencies, and see-through riot shields…