Democratic lawmakers in both the House and Senate are working on legislation that would force federal law enforcement officers to identify for which agency they work.
“I will be introducing legislation to require uniformed federal officers performing any domestic security duties to clearly identify what military branch or agency they represent,” tweeted Sen. Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat, on Wednesday night after federal officers stationed outside of the White House amid protests in Washington, D.C., were seen without badges or identifying labels on their uniforms.
We cannot tolerate an American secret police.
I will be introducing legislation to require uniformed federal officers performing any domestic security duties to clearly identify what military branch or agency they represent. pic.twitter.com/2kaFAlWUow
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) June 4, 2020
“Unacceptable for uniformed federal officers policing constitutionally-protected assemblies to refuse to identify themselves to people who pay their salaries,” said Rep. Don Beyer, a Democrat from Virginia. “Denying accountability to the public they serve ensures abuses.”
Unacceptable for uniformed federal officers policing constitutionally-protected assemblies to refuse to identify themselves to people who pay their salaries.
Denying accountability to the public they serve ensures abuses.
I’m working on legislation to stop this.
More to come. https://t.co/1rF8Q0Pqxr— Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) June 3, 2020
Members of the Army, including active-duty members, National Guardsmen, and Reserves, have to wear an identifier on their uniform, but the same rules don’t apply to all federal law enforcement, Thaddeus Hoffmeister, a law professor at the University of Dayton, told the Hill.
It is not clear if Beyer or Murphy’s bills would be proposed separately or as companion pieces of legislation.
Protests against police brutality and systemic racism have erupted all over the world, including in Washington, D.C., following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, in police custody last week after a white Minneapolis knelt on the back of his neck during an arrest for nearly nine minutes. In some instances, demonstrations have turned violent with looting, rioting, arson, and vandalism.
An assortment of law enforcement officers at both the federal and local levels have been tending to the unrest across the country. All four officers involved Floyd’s arrest are facing charges.
