In response to immigration raids by masked federal officers in Los Angeles and across the nation, two California lawmakers on Monday proposed a new state law to ban members of law enforcement from concealing their faces while on the job.

The bill would make it a misdemeanor for local, state and federal law enforcement officers to cover their faces with some exceptions, and also encourage them to wear a form of identification on their uniform.

“We’re really at risk of having, effectively, secret police in this country,” said state Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), co-author of the bill.

  • AbouBenAdhem@lemmy.world
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    7 hours ago

    That’s one of the main exceptions mentioned in the article:

    Under the proposal, law enforcement officials would be exempted from the mask ban if they serve on a SWAT team or if a mask is necessary for medical or health reasons, including to prevent smoke inhalation.

    But I can see the claim of “health reasons” being abused.

    • DBT@lemmy.world
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      7 hours ago

      They will absolutely claim they need it for protection from Covid. And it all of a sudden won’t hinder their breathing at all.

      • stoy@lemmy.zip
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        5 hours ago

        Then they should only be allowed to wear a full gasmask or a standard medical mask in those engagements.

        None of this balaclava shit.

        Make them uncomfortable or hypocrates.

        Oh, and regardless of when they are wearing a mask or not, they need to have their ID number printed clearly visible on their helmets, their vests (back and front), and their pants.

      • gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works
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        7 hours ago

        Which would be obnoxiously ironic, considering how police unions fought tooth and nail against mask mandates during the pandemic. Fucking idiots.

    • dejected_warp_core@lemmy.world
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      5 hours ago

      if a mask is necessary

      I’m not sure if this will be the case, but does that cover the case where they’re the reason? Because that’s one way to ensure escalation to “tear gas on hand, everywhere, at all times.”

      • ricecake@sh.itjust.works
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        6 hours ago

        It’s likely phrased in the law as closer to while serving on a swat team, as in they’re actively wearing a ballistic face shield and gas mask for legitimate reasons.

        It’s a prime opportunity for things to get lost in translation between the law, the person talking to the press, and the report.