Detroit Council member seeks ban on masked law enforcement

February 4, 2026

Detroit City Council Member Mary Waters has proposed legislation requiring law enforcement officers working in Detroit to display proper identification, including their name, badge number, and face, with exceptions for undercover operations and protective equipment. The proposal was inspired by a Minneapolis incident where masked ICE agents killed Alex Pretti. Separately, the Board of Police Commissioners is considering strengthening requirements for releasing body camera footage, with activists pushing to reduce the release timeframe from 30 days to seven days and expand the types of incidents covered.

Who is affected

Law enforcement officers working in Detroit (local, state, and federal)
Detroit City Council Member Mary Waters
Police Chief Todd Bettison
The Detroit Police Officers Association
Alex Pretti (deceased Minneapolis man killed by ICE agents)
Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa and Customs and Border Protection officer Raymundo Gutierrez
Members of the Board of Police Commissioners
Council Member Angela Whitfield-Calloway
The Detroit Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression
Police Commissioner Victoria Camille
The Board of Ethics
Detroit Law Department

What action is being taken

Mary Waters has submitted a memo requesting the Law Department to draft an ordinance banning concealed identity for law enforcement officers
The Board of Police Commissioners is reviewing a proposal to strengthen body camera footage release requirements
Activists are pushing for a new version of the body camera ordinance ("People's Body Cam Ordinance")
The City Council is consulting with attorneys in closed session about the Board of Ethics' ability to retain independent counsel

Why it matters

This matters because it addresses fundamental issues of police accountability and transparency in Detroit. The identification requirement would ensure that law enforcement officers can be held accountable for their actions, particularly in response to concerns about excessive force and civil rights violations. Strengthening body camera footage release requirements provides greater public oversight of police conduct and reduces opportunities for departments to delay or withhold evidence of misconduct. The ability of the Board of Ethics to obtain independent counsel affects its capacity to investigate potential wrongdoing within the mayoral administration without conflicts of interest.

What's next

The Law Department will draft the ordinance banning concealed identity for law enforcement officers
The Board of Police Commissioners will continue reviewing the body camera footage proposal
Funding for the Board of Ethics' independent counsel was requested during last year's budget hearings (outcome pending)

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com