A process for triggering and propagating a covert mode status change includes maintaining one or more first devices having externally-perceivable outputs in a covert state in which one or more indications of law enforcement activity are caused to be hidden or inactivated. In response to subsequently detecting a covert mode status change trigger, causing the one or more externally-perceivable outputs to switch from the covert state to the non-covert state when the covert mode status change trigger is detected and causing, by the computing device, the one or more externally-perceivable outputs to switch from the non-covert state to the covert state when the covert mode status change trigger is detected and transmitting via one or more networks a covert mode status change trigger message to a second computing device maintaining one or more second devices having second externally-perceivable outputs to switch from the covert state to the non-covert state.