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ACP forms ad hoc group to review county bill banning police face coverings amid split views
Summary
The commission agreed to form an ad hoc committee of four members to review Bill 5-26, a proposed local prohibition on face coverings for law enforcement, after commissioners raised competing concerns about doxxing, accountability, enforceability, exceptions and religious accommodations.
The Advisory Commission on Policing voted to convene an ad hoc committee to analyze Bill 5-26, a county referral that would restrict police face coverings in specified situations. Commissioners emphasized they were not issuing a final endorsement but sought to study the bill’s language, exceptions, and practical impacts before sending formal advice to the Council.
Divergent concerns: Commissioners raised multiple points: some noted proponents’ rationale that federal agents wear masks to avoid being "doxxed" and argued that masked enforcement officers reduce transparency; others warned the bill may be unenforceable or create safety risks in riot situations where shields or face coverings protect officers from thrown objects, and raised the need to exempt medical and religious coverings. "They have not presented 1 iota of data that indicates that anybody's been doxxed," one commissioner said, urging policy decisions be evidence-based; others responded that anonymity can reduce accountability.
Ad hoc committee and next steps: The commission named Francisco, Lauren, Henry and Sherry as volunteers to draft a proposed response for discussion at the next meeting. Staff said the council’s operating-budget timeline (recommended budget transmitted March 15) may delay committee work on related budget questions; the committee was asked to return a draft recommendation ahead of the ACP’s March meeting so the commission can vote.
