JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – During a Jackson City Council meeting on Tuesday, Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade proposed a citywide ordinance that would prohibit ski masks.

Wade said the overall goal is not to violate anyone’s constitutional rights but to reduce crime and keep everyone safe.

“I see them down in South Jackson, specifically on bicycle with no shirts on, with ski mask on. I see them on video surveillance inside businesses, gas stations, dollar stores with ski masks on. And they’re doing this for multiple reasons. First of all, to not show who they are. We have the ability to do facial recognition now, and they know this. So now, they’re riding around right now in 90-degree weather, 100-degree weather with ski masks on,” he said.

The City Council agreed to revisit the request at a later date.

Wade said the Jackson Police Department (JPD) is working alongside Jackson Mayor John Horhn and Capitol Police Chief Bo Luckey to get several memorandums of understanding with the Capitol Police Department.