New Jersey’s Police Mask Ban: A Deadly Political Stunt (OPINION) By David Berez

The irony is staggering. Many of the same politicians pushing this ban have tolerated or even encouraged protesters who engage in doxxing.

Citizens Behind the Badge Advisory Council Member David Berez

By David Berez

New Jersey legislators are racing to follow California’s disastrous example by criminalizing one of law enforcement’s most basic safety measures: protecting their identities from criminal retaliation. State Senator Benjie Wimberly’s proposed mask ban for federal, state, and local officers—endorsed by Governor‑elect Mikie Sherrill—is political theater at its most cynical. It gambles with the lives of officers and their families for political ideological points.

The bill would prohibit officers from wearing masks on duty, with penalties of up to $1,000 in fines and six months in prison. Supporters claim it enhances public safety by ensuring officers can be easily identified. But this framing is dangerously dishonest. Officers don’t wear masks for comfort or intimidation. They wear them because of documented threats: doxxing campaigns that expose identities, leading to harassment, threats, and violence against officers and their families.

The irony is staggering. Many of the same politicians pushing this ban have tolerated or even encouraged protesters who engage in doxxing. They create the danger, then criminalize officers for protecting themselves from it. This isn’t reform—it’s a calculated attack on effective policing dressed up in the language of accountability.

Continue reading the article here: https://savejersey.com/2025/12/new-jerseys-police-mask-ban-a-deadly-political-stunt-opinion/