September 10, 2025
Chair David Cohen et al.
Rules and Open Government Committee
City of San José
200 E. Santa Clara Street
San José, CA 95113
Subject: Support Ordinance Prohibiting Law Enforcement Officers from Concealing Their Identities in the City of San José
Dear Chair Cohen and the Committee,
It is long past time for the City of San José to restore one of the most basic and fundamental rights in this country: the right to know who has the authority to enforce arrests. Secret policing is characteristic of authoritarian regimes that use fear and distrust to control their citizens. In democratic societies, it has long been a standard that members of law enforcement are clearly identifiable so their actions can be held accountable and subject to legal and public scrutiny.
When there is no transparency allowing the public to know who is acting on behalf of our government, it creates more opportunities for impersonators to exploit residents’ vulnerabilities and deepen public mistrust. Yesterday, the State Assembly voted in support of SB 627 (Wiener) and SB 805 (Pérez), legislation to require law enforcement to identify themselves clearly. These two legislative initiatives aim to enhance public safety while improving public trust in law enforcement during the Trump Administration.
We must affirm our commitment to public safety through transparency. I respectfully urge you and this Committee to pass the ordinance requiring law enforcement officers to be visibly identifiable while performing their duties.
Thank you for your leadership.
Sincerely,
ASH KALRA
Assemblymember, 25th District