SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A new bill introduced in California would make it a misdemeanor for state and local law enforcement officers to hide their faces during official duties, aiming to boost transparency and accountability amid rising public concern over masked raids and unidentifiable police.
The proposal comes in the wake of recent immigration raids, including the June 6 sweeps in Los Angeles where masked federal officers detained over 100 people. The images — including officers in unmarked uniforms pulling individuals off the street into unmarked vehicles — sparked nationwide protests and mounting public distrust.
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On June 10, State Senators Scott Wiener and Jesse Arreguin unveiled the legislation, emphasizing the importance of public trust and the need to prevent impersonation of law enforcement. Under the bill, all non-federal officers would be required to show their faces and wear clearly identifiable uniforms during public operations.
Exemptions would apply to SWAT teams, disaster response personnel, federal agents, and National Guard troops.
Pointing to recent raids in cities like San Francisco, San Diego, and Downey, Wiener criticized the cloak of anonymity some officers operate under. “They are grabbing people off our streets and disappearing people, and it’s terrifying,” he said. “Law enforcement officers are public servants — people should be able to see their faces, see who they are, know who they are. Otherwise, there is no transparency and no accountability.”
Legal analysts caution the bill’s limits. Special prosecutor Ed Obayashi noted that federal officers cannot be regulated by state laws, as they follow separate legal standards. However, he acknowledged that state and local officers are already required to display badges and identifying insignia — something this bill would now formally enforce as a criminal statute.
If passed, the law would reinforce visible identification as a cornerstone of legitimate policing, especially during high-stakes operations where public fear and misinformation often collide.
