There is no good excuse for wearing a mask while enforcing the law. None. Yes, there needs to be some safeguards for informants (properly vetted) and narcotics officers but very strict safeguards. Nobody said that it was gonna be easy guys... Masked LEOs look and act like terrorists, one day that will backfire especially in today’s climate.
PDs and SOs need to get back to tried and true civilian law enforcement techniques. Body armor? Well sure, under uniforms that are clearly marked, faces unmasked. Warrants served properly, above board. Now “dynamic entries” are used for the least excuse instead of major incidents such as hostage situations.
High-powered weaponry? Sure, but in the cruiser, handy and ready (not locked in the trunk like LAPD policy) in case of situations like the Bank of America shootout. And of course, only with proper and certifiable (plus minimum bi-annual) training with those weapons.
Meanwhile Mr. Mayor and family are terrorized, family pets shot down in their own house in front of them, at the very least in this situation, these were folks that all LEOs of that town ARE SUPPOSED TO KNOW and there were many, many opportunities to make their case without terror tactics—if they had a case...
Their peace of mind and feeling of security is no more, a very heavy price to pay and for what?
A lot of the ‘masks” you see are actually flash hoods. They are cotton, wool, or Nomex hoods that protect the wearer from being burned by the flash from an explosion. Flash Bangs, booby traps, a weapons discharge, drug labs are all dangers that are faced by officers making a dynamic entry.
You answered your own question right there.
Because thats what the cops in all the cool tv shows and action movies do.
This is a SWAT team from Prince Georges County MD- they probably got their training by watching reruns of “The A Team” (Don’t you look at me, FOOL!”
It's probably some local sanitation code required while serving 'warrents'. ;-)
What kind of masks? Gas masks, medical-style masks, Halloween masks?
SOP in a Police State.
The same reason any other criminal wears a mask.
Anyone coming to my house wearing a mask better hope that it’s Halloween.
Why masks?
To hide the pimples.
Never trust a government who operates in secret.
To instill fear in their targets.
Intimidation is a powerful tool in the hands of the state.
They don't want to singe their eyebrows when they throw hand grenades into rooms where children are sometimes present.
There is a downside to their policy:
United States Code; U.S. Criminal Code,
Title 18, §ection 241:
Conspiracy against rights
If two or more persons conspire to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate any person in any State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured to him by the Constitution or laws of the United States, or because of his having so exercised the same;
or
If two or more persons go in disguise on the highway, or on the premises of another, with intent to prevent or hinder his free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege so secured—
They shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and if death results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, they shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both, or may be sentenced to death.
It looks "cool" to have a black balaclava.... that way the "bad guys" can't id you.... yeah, uh-huh.
It's all about trying to look like spec op troops and be cool. They couldn't or wouldn't sacrifice 4-6 years in order to earn the spec op tag, so they get to dress up... get MP-5's, body armor and run around and pretend they do CQB.
I've said this on another thread but I'll repeat it here. I'm waiting for the first gang-banger to get out of the armed forces that knows how to protect a perimeter with trip wires, pressure plates and some home-made nail bombs and napalm....then we'll see how many no-knock warrants get served.
All of these could have been done by snatching the bad guys. Dragging them over with zip ties and turning off the water, electricity and phones.... heck you can even jam the cell phones if you wanted to.
But it doesn't look "cool" for budget presentations to be dragging a guy up, putting a key in the door and just walking in.
Has to be a "dynamic" entry. doncha know?
ITs been popular since the Munich Olympics.
Because they are EEEEEVIL and they are out to get... YOU!