TexasCHLforum.com

Many SWAT officers work jobs other than being SWAT cops, up to and including drug interdiction, and undercover buys. By working these cases, especially if they are undercover officers, they actually NEED to wear a face mask to prevent further identification by the suspects when they serve a warrant. In some cases, it's prudent for officer safety to not be identified.

Also, remember that many officers wear nomex hoods, like a fire fighter. These serve an additional purpose of protecting the face from flames or flash fire that might otherwise injure them. You guys think about deploying a flash bang device and having something like a couch erupt in flames next to you. If you bought a face full of couch stuffing on fire, you'd be wishing for a good nomex hood too.