The first thing to remember is that domestic law enforcement officers foremost duty is to protect and to serve the public, not to be a law unto themselves, not to be responsible to just some special subset of society , and that they therefore must be held accountable for the actions that they perform and accomplish in their day-to-day activities. The responsibility that a given law enforcement officer has to himself as well as to society is enormous, as the real world is a combination of so many myriad factors and tensions that the performance of duties as a law enforcement agent is fraught with dangers, pressures, and decisions that can overwhelm a lesser man.
When tensions are high, there are very valid reasons as to why police officers will be outfitted into riot gear; for instance for their own protection, as well as intimidation, preparedness for danger, organization, efficiency, and safety reasons. In almost every case, citizens that are facing up against a well organized police force in their full riot gear and accouterments are almost completely at the mercy for life and limb by these officers.
When it comes to regular police duties, officers of the law are identified with badges or similar with their name and identifying number visible; this is necessary for all parties involved, providing the citizens a chance to basically ascertain that the officer is actually legitimate, as well as a valid protection of answerability for the people. In addition, police vehicles are uniquely identified by not only their license plate but also the distinctive identification code on the roof of a given vehicle.
However, when it comes to riot gear on police, with the exception of some word printed on their uniform or gear such as "police" or "sheriff" or similar, it often is virtually impossible to identify any individual officer of the law by name or identification number, if these are even shown. Additionally, riot gear is typically so encompassing, that often times no body skin of the riot gear outfitted officer is shown whatsoever, in addition to normal visual identifiers such as the eyes and face being obstructed or shielded by the face shield and/or goggles or shades so that in total it is difficult or nearly impossible for the public to identify the officer in question whatsoever.
The officer in full riot gear is well aware that he is both seen as an intimidating force, as well as being cognizant that he is virtually and effectively anonymous to the public. This anonymity, this unaccountability is extremely dangerous to the public, as those that are the law, or instruments of the law, are far more capable of giving full vent to their free rein, if they believe that they individually will not be held accountable for their zeal in their performance of their duty, as well as believing that those that strike against aren't ever going to be able to know who they really are as individuals and fellow citizens.
The fact of the matter is that all police officers in riot gear should always be readily identifiable by at a minimum a unique identifying number clearly displayed on their helmet so that the public and the police agency itself can know for a certainty the identity of that particular officer. Anytime that a country degenerates to such an extent that the policing agency of said country is permitted to perform their duties without identification nor proper independent oversight, than the rights of the people, will be held in the hands of those that wield the sword.