On Monday, Senators Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and Jesse Arreguin (D-Berkeley) announced a bill that would ban law enforcement from wearing face coverings.
According to Wiener, who took to social media to announce the bill, stated:
“We’re announcing new legislation — the No Secret Police Act (SB 627) — to ban local, state & federal law enforcement, with some exceptions, from covering their faces when interacting with the public & require them to wear identifying info.
We’re seeing the rise of secret police — masked, no identifying info, even wearing army fatigues — grabbing & disappearing people.
This behavior destroys trust. It’s antithetical to democracy & deeply harms communities. It must end.”
Later, during a press conference, Wiener called it an important and timely proposal.
Under SB 627, he said more officers are in the community, especially federal officers, who are covering their faces and not identifying themselves—or wearing army gear with some not being able to tell if they were law enforcement or a vigilante or militia who are grabbing people off the streets and they are disappearing.
“It is terrifying and its tearing apart communities, its causing chaos and it is a growing problem. Law enforcement officers are public servants and people should be able to see their faces, see who they are, know who they are or otherwise there is no transparency or not accountability,” said Wiener.
He stated under President Donald Trump, the country is at risk over having “secret police” in this country with law enforcement who you can’t identify who they are or the agency they are with. He accused Trump of forcing local law enforcement to be apart of the “deportation machine” while California has a “Sanctuary law” from being part of the deportation process, but Trump is challenging the laws.
“We don’t need secret police in California or law enforcement officers covering their faces, who are not identifying themselves and jumping out of unmarked vehicles and grabbing residents of this state, including at times citizens, people who live here, work here, grab them, throwing them into vans and disappearing them,” explained Wiener.
Under SB 627, it would prohibit law enforcement officers at all levels from covering their faces with a few exceptions — including SWAT teams, medical masking, masking when there are natural disasters, such as smoke. The other provision of the bill is officers have identification, such as a name or badge number. The bill would also apply to contractors of law enforcement as well.
According to Senator Arreguin, he called it an important bill. He said it was rooted in protecting California communities and to ensure transparency and accountability. He said over the past few weeks, some local and some federal who are wearing masks to hide their faces while carrying out deportation enforcement activities.
“Literally snatching people off the streets,” said Arreguin. “This is really about making sure that we know what is happening, we know who is engaged in these law enforcement operations and I believe this is critical to make our communities safer.”
He added that it is important that anyone engaged in law enforcement activities whether its state, county or federal, that there is full transparency. In addition, they are now seeing people impersonate law enforcement officials, so this is to discourage impostors and thugs who are engaged in activities that is not legal or authorized.
The bill comes as there are major protests in Los Angeles over immigration and the National Guard has been deployed. There are also immigration raids occurring both in California and throughout the country.
SB 627 appears to be a replacement bill which was originally introduced by Senator McGuire as planning and zoning: housing: postentitlement phase permits Bill.
