Authorities devalue the law when they hide behind masks

This is basic stuff to us law enforcement professionals. California is right to ban masks for federal agents.

- STEPHEN DOWNING GUEST CONTRIBUTOR

AS A YOUNG recruit, the first thing I learned when I pinned on a badge was simple but profound: Power must always be visible and accountable.

A nameplate, a badge number, an agency insignia — those aren’t just pieces of metal and cloth. They're promises that those who wield the authority of the state can be identified, questioned and held responsible for their actions.

That’s why California's new law, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2026, should be welcomed by anyone who values the rule of law. It will make it a misdemeanor for any law enforcement officer — federal or local — to conceal their identity with a mask during enforcement actions in public spaces such as schools, hospitals or places of worship. The goal is straightforward: When government agents act in the name of the people, the people should know who they are.

Predictably, critics call the measure “political theater.” Some insist that “federal law trumps state law.” Others argue that agents have a “right” to wear masks — and that if they’re arresting undocumented people, “who cares?”

Those claims are not only wrong but betray a fundamental misunderstanding of what policing in a democracy is supposed to look like — and why accountability is not optional.