I had initially suggested for discussion the use of a badge (or to the same purpose, anything that size and shiny that could be carried in one's wallet -- I think I just had an inspiration here!) to aid in initial identification and decrease the odds of being shot be responding Officers AFTER a "gravest extreme" event.
I can't see taking time to draw anything but a weapon, if one is at the beginning of such a situation.
I'm curious about that DA being charged with "Impersonating an Officer" for having a DA badge. I'd really like to know if there's a conviction. I have a hunch that tolerance for badges varies from place to place. Obviously, there are LOTS of folks these days who are not working street cops, but have some sort of badge, be it dog catcher, firefighter, crossing guard, truant officer or whatever. In even the less tolerant areas, could I really be CONVICTED of "impersonating" for accidentally letting an organizational membership badge show for a moment? I have a hunch that conviction would generally require one to present oneself in some way as an Officer. It would seem difficult to convict someone who was on record saying loudly "Officers, I'm a private citizen with a Concealed Pistol License," and if questioned about a badge replied "No, I am not a Police Officer."
Seems to me I recall Ayoob (it could have been someone else, time blurs memory) writing that one could yell "Stop, Police!" at a felon in the appropriate situation, and would be safe later claiming he did yell "Stop!" and a moment later called for Police. Pretty hard, to prove whether one called out a two word sentence with a comma in the middle, or two one word sentences.
