Massachusetts legislators are considering an essential bill: An Act Ensuring Law Enforcement Identification. This is a matter of public safety, civil rights, and democracy itself. No officer — police or immigration — should be allowed to hide their face during routine public operations. Yet increasingly, agents show up masked and nameless, demanding compliance under threat, leaving the public unable to verify whether they’re encountering law enforcement or criminals in costume.

This is not hypothetical. Armed imposters have already exploited this practice in home invasions, robberies, and worse. When tactical gear, shouted commands, and hidden faces replace clear identification, the line between authority and abuse disappears. A badge alone is meaningless when there’s no way to confirm who’s behind it. Supporters of masking claim it protects officers. But public power demands public accountability. Judges don’t wear masks. Legislators don’t hide their names. Secret policing has no place in a democracy. Massachusetts must act — now — to prohibit masked law enforcement during public operations. This bill is vital to protect the public from impersonation, restore community trust, and reject the normalization of anonymity in policing.

Norah Dooley

Royalston