Should LEOs be allowed to wear masks on the job?

[HintonJamesHeel]

If you’re ok with them wearing masks, plainclothes and riding in unmarked vehicles, do you also support all police doing the same? Would you want your town’s police to be able to pull you over in an unmarked car? Or just some guy who you don’t know is a cop come up and arrest you?

Or is it only OK when they do it to brown people?

In 2025, folks have the right to wear masks. When you can get threatened and your family can be targeted when you are doing what you are told, you have a right to protect yourself.

 

[finesse]

In 2025, folks have the right to wear masks. When you can get threatened and your family can be targeted when you are doing what you are told, you have a right to protect yourself.

No you don't. You have the right to do what your employment contract tells you that you can do. If you think your job is a threat to you, quit your job. Most law enforcement oaths stress service to the community and the organization and doesn't even mention risk to the officer. Only a moron doesn't realize that it's a job condition. It's always close to one of the top twenty most dangerous professions. Suck it up, sweetheart and quit trying to hide behind a mask like a paramilitary bully. That's shame, not fear, that they are hiding or should be.

 

[8992Tiger]

I don't know about y'all, but I think federal "law enforcement officers" running around in plain clothes and masks, carrying guns and driving black vans is some serious deep state shit.

This got me thinking... could the Proud Boys and other such groups who wear plain clothes, masks and carry around guns be arrested for impersonating law enforcement officers?

 

[dukeman92]

If you don't want to suffer the consequences of gestapo participation... don't participate.

 

[UNCatTech]

I hate the “Gestapo” references because I think the Nazi/Gestapo claims shut down conversations before they can begin. But this certainly looks like criminal activity rather than law enforcement…

Yes and without a uniform, this is just an open invitation for criminal activity.

 

[stankeylegjones]

I guess I'm fine with them wearing masks, if they're worried about harm to them or their family/friends/etc., but I don't understand why they're not required to wear "ICE clothing." There's no reason, that I can think of, why they shouldn't have to wear clothing, or something, identifying them as a member of ICE.

 

[gtyellowjacket]

I guess I'm fine with them wearing masks, if they're worried about harm to them or their family/friends/etc., but I don't understand why they're not required to wear "ICE clothing." There's no reason, that I can think of, why they shouldn't have to wear clothing, or something, identifying them as a member of ICE.

This is where I'm at.

I don't think it's great policy to be detaining all these nonviolent immigrants but democracy sucks sometimes. But I do think they should be doing it as professionally and humanely as possible. Wear a uniform and stop looking like something between a vigilante and a bum.

 

[wmheel1287]

In 2025, folks have the right to wear masks. When you can get threatened and your family can be targeted when you are doing what you are told, you have a right to protect yourself.

Lol, ok, let's see how you feel when your family is approached by people in masks and plain clothes and demands them get into an unmarked vehicle.

 

[TangledUpInBlue06]

In 2025, folks have the right to wear masks. When you can get threatened and your family can be targeted when you are doing what you are told, you have a right to protect yourself.

I'm sensitive to the possibility that government actors might receive threats. Threats are wrong.

But the government should be held to certain standards in their interactions with the governed. They include transparency and accountability, and they are of particular importance when the government is attempting to deprive someone of their freedom. Anonymous government actors - with no uniform, agency identification, badge number, name, or face - are not transparent or accountable to the public. A democratic government's legitimacy is rooted in the consent of the governed. Consent requires knowledge. Anonymous state action frustrates knowledge.

The government should fear the people, not the other way around. Weighing the interest of some government actors to avoid the potential for threats against the interest of the general public in understanding what its government is actually doing, I come down strongly on the side of the general public.

 

[stankeylegjones]

This is where I'm at.

I don't think it's great policy to be detaining all these nonviolent immigrants but democracy sucks sometimes. But I do think they should be doing it as professionally and humanely as possible. Wear a uniform and stop looking like something between a vigilante and a bum.

Oh, you misunderstood me. I completely disagree with what they're doing.

 

[gtyellowjacket]

Oh, you misunderstood me. I completely disagree with what they're doing.

I don't agree with what they're doing either but once again that's the way democracy works sometimes. But if they are going to do it, I definitely think they should be doing it with professionalism and as much humanity as possible. These folks aren't murderers.

 

[ChileG]

Don’t do shameful things and you won’t need to hide your face.

 

[superrific]

I'm sensitive to the possibility that government actors might receive threats. Threats are wrong.

But the government should be held to certain standards in their interactions with the governed. They include transparency and accountability, and they are of particular importance when the government is attempting to deprive someone of their freedom. Anonymous government actors - with no uniform, agency identification, badge number, name, or face - are not transparent or accountable to the public. A democratic government's legitimacy is rooted in the consent of the governed. Consent requires knowledge. Anonymous state action frustrates knowledge.

The government should fear the people, not the other way around. Weighing the interest of some government actors to avoid the potential for threats against the interest of the general public in understanding what its government is actually doing, I come down strongly on the side of the general public.

tl;dr: No justice, no peace.

 

[superrific]

Lol, ok, let's see how you feel when your family is approached by people in masks and plain clothes and demands them get into an unmarked vehicle.

Once again, conservatives show off their self-absorption. If it isn't happening to them, they figure nobody has anything to worry about. It's one of the most toxic elements of the GOP. Well, more toxic elements. It has a lot of competition.

 

[BlooVooDoo]

In 2025, folks have the right to wear masks. When you can get threatened and your family can be targeted when you are doing what you are told, you have a right to protect yourself.

In 2025, everyone faces that possibility. Reporters, judges, teachers, doctors, lawyers, city council and board of education members are being targeted for doing their jobs. Unlike law enforcement officers, they don’t have the option of hiding their identity and none of them signed up to put themselves in harm’s way or are given (except judges, maybe) the leeway to carry weapons everywhere they go.

This tactic isn’t about preventing harassment of ICE agents, it’s about preventing accountability.

 

[HeelInTheOzarks]

In 2025, folks have the right to wear masks. When you can get threatened and your family can be targeted when you are doing what you are told, you have a right to protect yourself.

You are OK with zero identification of them being legitimate law enforcement? How can I tell that the people throwing me into a car are kidnappers or if they are doing police work?

 

[Machinehead]

You are OK with zero identification of them being legitimate law enforcement? How can I tell that the people throwing me into a car are kidnappers or if they are doing police work?

Should have every right to defend themselves in those cases.

 

[nycfan]

 

[nycfan]

LA supervisor warns of ICE impersonators after masked men profile staffer’s godson​

Alleged incident comes as California lawmakers push to ban federal agents from wearing masks amid aggressive Trump administration enforcement push​

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LA supervisor warns of ICE impersonators after masked men profile staffer’s godson

Alleged incident comes as California lawmakers push to ban federal agents from wearing masks amid aggressive Trump administration enforcement push

www.the-independent.com

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“… During a Tuesday meeting, Supervisor Kathryn Barger recounted the story of two masked men in an unmarked vehicle with flashing lights allegedly pulling over a staff member’s godson, then making a derogatory comment that he was driving a “nice truck for someone with that surname,” the Los Angeles Times reports.​

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The men then attempted to enter the vehicle, but fled once a crowd began recording the encounter.​

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“I do believe there may be people out there impersonating ICE, taking advantage of this population,” Barger said, adding that she called ICE about the incident and got no response.…”​

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ICE Impersonator Zip-Tied Woman and Stole $1,000​

"Any criminal can now put on a mask, say he is from ICE, and conduct any crime," one group warned.​

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'What People Have Feared': ICE Impersonator Zip-Tied Woman and Stole $1,000 | Common Dreams

"This is what people have feared," one immigration expert said after an ICE impersonator in Philadelphia zip-tied a woman and stole $1,000.

www.commondreams.org

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“…​

"He kept saying he is immigration officer," the 50-year-old cashier in Philadelphia, a legal U.S. resident who is from the Dominican Republic, toldFox 29's Steve Keeley. Showing the journalist her bruises, she said that the man tied her arms behind her back, and "every time I tried to turn around to look at his face, he twisted me around roughly."​

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Although the shop is next to the Philadelphia Police 15th District, it took over two hours before the victim could connect with law enforcement. Police said in a Tuesday statement that the man, who escaped in a white Ford cargo van with red dashes around the middle, remains at large.​

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Police released surveillance photos of the van and the man, described as a white male in a "black baseball cap with U.S. flag on the front, black sunglasses, black long sleeve shirt, wearing gloves, black tactical vest with 'Security Enforcement Agent,' and dark green cargo pants."…”​

 

[nycfan]

This stuff started earlier this year:​

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Florida woman accused of impersonating ICE agent to kidnap ex-boyfriend's wife​

Florida woman accused of impersonating ICE agent to kidnap ex-boyfriend's wife

A Florida woman is accused of pretending to be ICE to kidnap her ex-boyfriend's wife, even wearing a shirt with the word \

www.usatoday.com

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Multiple ICE impersonation arrests made during nationwide immigration crackdown​

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www.cnn.com

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ICE impersonators and other scammers are on the rise: How to protect yourself​

ICE impersonators and other scammers are on the rise: How to protect yourself

A rise in scams targeting the immigrant community spurs warnings from officials. Here's what to do if someone pretending to be ICE approaches or contacts you.

www.latimes.com

“… If you are approached by a person who claims they’re an immigration official, the best way to confirm that they’re a legitimate federal officer is to ask for identification, according to Bonta’s office. Immigration authorities carry identifying badges and credentials….”