As legislators, one of our most basic responsibilities is to stand with the men and women who put themselves in harm’s way to keep Alaskans safe. That obligation is exactly why House Bill 250 should concern every member of the Alaska Legislature. HB 250, referred Tuesday to House State Affairs, would criminalize peace officers for wearing protective face coverings while performing their duties. This proposal is not rooted in public safety, accountability or Alaska’s realities. It is a political solution in search of a problem, and it puts officers and their families at unnecessary risk.

HB 250 would make it a Class B misdemeanor for officers to conceal their faces in public while on duty, with narrow exceptions for undercover work, transparent shields, limited medical masks or smoke protection. Supporters argue this is necessary to preserve nonverbal cues and public trust. Yet no one has presented evidence that masked officers are a problem in Alaska. There is no record of intimidation, abuse or accountability failures tied to protective face coverings in our state. This bill reflects national political debates, not conditions on the ground in Alaska.

Law enforcement officers do not wear protective gear to intimidate the public. They wear it to protect themselves and their families. Doxxing, targeted harassment and retaliation are no longer rare events. Federal officers have experienced a dramatic increase in assaults in recent years, often after their identities were exposed online. In Nashville, after ICE arrested nearly 200 violent offenders, local officials released the names of agents involved. Criminal organizations such as MS-13 and Tren de Aragua quickly issued threats against their families. In Texas, an officer’s spouse received a direct threat promising that what happened to the Nazis after World War II is what would happen to their family. These are not fringe anecdotes. They are warnings about the consequences of stripping officers of basic protections.

Alaska depends on cooperation between state troopers, municipal police and federal agencies. That cooperation spans everything from wildlife enforcement to drug interdiction and border security. HB 250 undermines federal protections such as 18 USC 115, which criminalizes threats against officers and their families. It also invites Supremacy Clause challenges, as similar laws have already done in other states. Creating legal conflicts that put officers in the middle serves no one, least of all the public.

The practical problems with HB 250 are just as serious. Alaska is not a mild climate state. Troopers routinely work outdoors in wind chills of forty below. Traffic stops, patrols, and search and rescue missions can require hours of exposure in remote conditions. Balaclavas, neck gaiters, and cold weather face coverings are standard safety equipment. They prevent frostbite and hypothermia. While the new committee substitute allows masks below thirty two degrees (F), are officers now expected to carry thermometers on patrol to prove compliance? The bill’s narrow exceptions still do not clearly protect basic cold weather gear. No officer should have to choose between obeying the law and avoiding injury while serving the public.

If accountability is the goal, we already have effective tools, and they are in place today. Every law enforcement officer in Alaska wears a name tag and a badge with a unique identifying number. Officers are identifiable, traceable and accountable for their actions. Body worn cameras, visible badges and clear identification provide transparency without exposing officers and their families to retaliation. Some departments, such as the Anchorage Police Department, reportedly require officers to provide identifying information when asked, but that is a matter of local policy, not a statewide statute. Accountability in Alaska has always been handled through clear identification and professional standards, not by forcing officers to expose themselves to unnecessary risk.

Meaningful reform comes from working with law enforcement professionals, including the Alaska State Troopers, municipal departments and organizations such as the Public Safety Employees Association, not from imposing symbolic political and emotional mandates from Juneau.

HB 250 does not make Alaska safer. It makes officers more vulnerable, emboldens criminals and places families at risk for the sake of a gesture that solves nothing. Our law enforcement officers are the backbone of public safety in this state. They deserve our trust and support, not legislation that criminalizes common sense safety measures.

Write or call your legislator and urge them to reject HB 250 and focus instead on policies that genuinely strengthen public safety and respect the sacrifices made every day by our law enforcement officers, from the streets of Anchorage to villages along the Yukon.

Or how about we focus on cutting the budget and living within our means, or even finding a way to pay a full PFD, instead of inflaming and dividing the people from those charged to protect them.

TAKING ACTION

— The public can testify on HB 250 during a Feb. 17 meeting, which starts at 3:15 p.m. in the House State Affairs Committee. Click here for information on how to testify.

— Click here to contact members of the House State Affairs Committee.

The views expressed here are those of the author.

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