New state legislation would prohibit law enforcement officers from wearing masks on the job
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The bill is 'waiting to be assigned to a committee,' Major said.
At the Congressional level, similar
The use of masks by federal agents has increasingly become a point of concern as
ICE's acting director, Todd Lyons, has
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'I'm sorry if people are offended by them wearing masks, but I'm not going to let my officers and agents go out there and put their lives on the line and their family on the line because people don't like what immigration enforcement is,' Lyons said last month.
State Representative Steven G. Xiarhos, a Republican from Barnstable who served as deputy chief of the Yarmouth Police Department until his retirement in 2019, said he opposes the bill because 'I understand firsthand the risks our officers face every single day.'
'While I recognize the concerns some may have about transparency, I do not support this legislation,' Xiarhos said in a statement. 'Officers often wear face coverings for legitimate and necessary reasons — including tactical operations, personal safety, and to protect their families from potential retaliation. Having worked alongside these brave men and women, I know the importance of giving them every possible tool to do their jobs safely and effectively.'
Xiarhos said the bill 'creates unnecessary obstacles that could compromise' the safety of law enforcement officers and the success of their operations.
'We should be focused on supporting our law enforcement professionals, not placing them at greater risk,' Xiarhos said.
Emily Sweeney can be reached at
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