Number
251798
Version
SUBSTITUTE 1
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. ZAMARRIPA, DIMITRIJEVIC, BROWER, PEREZ, BAUMAN, AND MOORE
Title
Substitute motion modifying Milwaukee Police Department Standard Operating Procedure 340 - Uniforms / Equipment / Appearance.
Analysis
This motion modifies Milwaukee Police Department Standard Operating Procedure 340 - Uniforms / Equipment / Appearance to prohibit members from wearing masks or face coverings that obscure their face or identity. Exceptions to the prohibition include disease prevention, occupational health and safety requirements, and undercover assignments with supervisory approval.
Body
Whereas, Milwaukee Police Department Standard Operating Procedure 003 - Community Oriented Policing directs that department members are responsible for maximizing positive interactions with the public and building positive relationships with residents, community groups, and businesses; and
Whereas, Existing Milwaukee Police Department policy and City Ordinance have established the expectation that department members shall be identifiable to the public by visibly wearing the department badge or insignia of their office and a nametag; and
Whereas, If Milwaukee Police Department members were to conduct law enforcement activities while obscuring their faces in order to conceal their identity, it would not serve the goal of building positive relationships with residents, community groups, and businesses; and
Whereas, S. 62.50(3)(am), Wis. Stats., allows for the Common Council to suspend or modify any policy established by the Chief of Police upon a two-thirds vote of all of the members of the Common Council; now, therefore, be it
Moved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that Milwaukee Police Department Standard Operating Procedure 340 - Uniforms / Equipment / Appearance shall be modified to include the following language in Section 340.30 APPEARANCE STANDARDS - SWORN MEMBERS:
FACE COVERINGS
Members shall not wear masks or face coverings that obscure their face or identity except when:
1. A medical-grade mask or respirator is worn when necessary to prevent the transmission of airborne illness.
2. Working in a capacity in which occupational health and safety regulations require the use of a mask or face covering to protect against hazardous conditions.
Requestor
Drafter
LRB181393-2
Dave Gelting
February 12, 2026