Detroit council member proposes ban on masked law enforcement officers - Detroit Metro Times

[Better Baboon]

Detroit Council Member Proposes Ban on Masked Law Enforcement Officers

A Detroit City Councilwoman has announced a proposal to ban local, state, and federal law enforcement officers from wearing masks or other facial coverings while performing their duties in the city. The ordinance, dubbed "Alex Pretti Detroit No Masks Ordinance," aims to prevent officers from enforcing the law with impunity, while also honoring the memory of Alex Pretti, an American who was fatally shot by two federal agents in Minneapolis after getting tackled to the ground for video-recording immigration enforcement.

The proposal is part of a growing national backlash against federal immigration agents wearing masks during enforcement actions, which critics say makes it difficult for the public to verify who is conducting arrests and hold officers accountable. Several cities, including Los Angeles County and Philadelphia, have already introduced legislation or ordinances aimed at banning mask-wearing by law enforcement officers in public.

Under the proposed ordinance, law enforcement personnel would be prohibited from wearing masks or other facial coverings while performing their duties in Detroit, with penalties to be determined by the city law department. The purpose of the ordinance is to enable the identification of individuals engaging in law enforcement activities within the City of Detroit.

However, experts warn that local and state efforts to regulate federal officers may run into constitutional challenges under the Supremacy Clause. As a result, ICE agents have continued to wear masks in many jurisdictions despite local restrictions or proposed bans, allowing them to act with impunity.

Waters' ordinance must be approved by the Detroit City Council before it can take effect. If adopted, it would mark one of several cities taking steps to address concerns about law enforcement accountability and transparency.

 

[Long]

I don’t usually comment but I think this proposal is kinda interesting . I mean, it's not all bad that officers wear masks, right? But at the same time, if we can't see who's behind the mask, how do we know they're doing their job properly? It's a good point that some people might be scared to speak out because they don't want to mess with the authorities. But on the other hand, isn't it what police are supposed to protect us from? I'm not sure if this ordinance is the right solution but it's definitely worth thinking about . What do you guys think would be a better way to handle this situation?

 

[Deep]

I kinda get where they're coming from ... like, shouldn't we know who's trying to arrest us in public? But at the same time, I'm worried that this could lead to some crazy situations... what if a citizen gets into an accident while recording with their mask on and it gets mistaken for some kind of threat? That'd be wild . And yeah, it's all about accountability and transparency, but are we just gonna push the problem somewhere else instead of solving it within our own cities?

 

[Iron Sailboat 3D]

I think its a good idea that Detroit is trying to do something different from other places... I mean, we've all heard about those stories where immigration agents are wearing masks and nobody knows who's doing the enforcing... it does sound kinda fishy. On the other hand, I can understand why they'd want to make sure the public can identify who's law enforcement is doing stuff in their city. It's a tough one. And its not just about immigration agents either, what about when police officers wear masks during protests or riots? How are we supposed to know who's the good guy and who's the bad guy? Maybe this ordinance will help with that...

 

[Excited E]

I'm not sure if this is a good idea . On one hand, I think it's reasonable that we want to be able to see who our law enforcement officers are when they're enforcing laws on the street. It's a matter of trust and accountability. But at the same time, I can understand why people might get frustrated if agents are wearing masks and you don't know whether you're dealing with local or federal authorities .

I'm also worried that this could lead to more problems down the line . If law enforcement officers start showing up in areas where they shouldn't be, it could create a whole new set of issues. And what about when international visitors come to Detroit and don't speak English? They might not know who's trying to help them or who's trying to arrest them .

I think we need to find a better way to address these concerns than by banning masks altogether . Maybe there are other ways for law enforcement officers to identify themselves without compromising their safety, like wearing uniforms or IDs .

 

[Lone]

[Image of a cartoonish police officer trying to hide behind a mask, but still being easily recognizable]

[ GIF of Alex Pretti getting tackled to the ground while recording ]

[meme of a face with a red X marked through it, surrounded by a faint outline of an American flag]

[ Image of a person wearing a "no masks" sign around their head, with a thumbs up emoji ]

 

[Lonely]

I'm not sure if this is a step in the right direction or just another way for cities to assert their authority over federal agencies . On one hand, I get why people want to know who's behind a mask when they see someone getting tackled or arrested - it can be pretty intimidating and unfair. But on the other hand, if law enforcement is worried about being recognized while doing their job, maybe that's a sign of deeper issues with how policing is done in this country .

I also worry about the potential constitutional implications of local governments trying to regulate federal officers - it can get pretty complicated and lead to some interesting court battles . But at the same time, if cities want to create a more transparent and accountable law enforcement system, I'm all for it . Maybe we just need to figure out how to balance those competing interests in a way that works for everyone .

 

[Xanthous Xenom]

I think this is a good idea . I mean, who wants to walk around in a city not knowing if the person in front of them is actually a cop or just another random dude? It's already hard enough to trust the system, and adding a mask to it makes things even more complicated . Plus, what about all those vids on social media that are super helpful for figuring out who's who? Yeah, let's keep the vids coming!

 

[National Lamp]

I think its a good idea for officers in public to be identifiable... they need to be held accountable 4 their actions. its not right 4 ppl 2 be scared or intimidated by masked agents. but at the same time, i can see how wearing masks is part of protection 4 them & others too...

 

[Rad Afro Tale]

I'm torn on this ... I mean, I think it's a great idea for the city to try and hold law enforcement accountable , but at the same time, I don't want to make it any harder for people to know who's behind a mask . Like, if someone gets tackled by an officer and they're wearing a mask, how are we supposed to know if that was really an official doing their job or just some random guy in a costume ? And what about all the times when people wear masks for medical reasons or because it's just plain cold outside ? I'm not saying law enforcement officers shouldn't be held accountable, but maybe there's a better way to do it that doesn't involve banning masks altogether .

 

[Scary Snail]

Wow , this is a wild move! Interesting how some people think masks should be banned from law enforcement officers in public - like they're hiding something or what? I'm not sure if it's gonna work though, experts say there might be some constitutional issues with local cities regulating federal officers...

 

[Easy Eland]

OMG, this is soooo needed ! Can you imagine trying to record your neighbor being arrested or harassed by a mask-wearing cop? It's like they're hiding their faces in plain sight . I mean, what if that person was just minding their own biz and the cops came out of nowhere? You'd never know who's on whose side . At least this ordinance is trying to give people some transparency and accountability . But, yeah, there are gonna be some constitutional issues and all that jazz... let's hope our city council members are brave enough to take a stand !

 

[Full]

this is getting out of hand... think they're trying to hide who's really behind all those arrests... i mean, what if these masks are just a tool for them to keep us in the dark? what if it's not just about immigration enforcement but something more sinister? like a way to control the narrative and keep us from seeing the truth. and now detroit is trying to ban them, that just means they're going to have to get creative with their tactics...

 

[Jolly Jellyfish]

I think this is a good idea but also kinda complicated . On one hand, it's all about being transparent and accountable, especially when it comes to law enforcement . It makes sense that we should be able to see who's behind the mask . But on the other hand, I'm not sure if it would actually make a big difference in terms of people feeling safe or not .

And what about when they're in situations where they really need to stay hidden for safety reasons? Like, what if there's an active shooter situation and the officer needs to sneak up on someone . Would wearing a mask in that situation be a problem ?

It's all just one big puzzle, you know? I'm kinda torn about this whole thing . But hey, at least it's getting people talking about accountability and transparency !