The premise is flawed - Why would a cop, facing an aggressive suspect, be required to carefully scrutinize anything that appears to be a gun pointing at him? No cop should be responsible for the stupidity of suspects in split-second confrontations. Play stupid games; win stupid prizes.
If a cop shows up in a confrontational, emotionally charged situation, you had better not point a gun, knife, stick, cell phone, finger, *anything* at him. Right or wrong, you would do so at your deathly peril.
Not all cops are bad and some are true honorable heroes, well grounded and level-headed, cool under pressure and capable of reasonable discretion and an over abundance of common sense. However, there are a lot more Barney Fifes out there today than we should tolerate and they are panicky, knee-jerky, prone to being hot-headed and spastic. They seem to be forever on the lookout for plausible justification to get “badge-heavy” and go to their gun far too easily (may not shoot, but they are ready to the point of being hopeful). They are experts at “building probable-cause backwards”. You have to wonder, which one is answering your call?
Three more miles up, and boom it’s a thunder storm. I roll another mile or so, wet and freezing, and pop a little hill for the LEO field sobriety check point. I’m covered in bug bits, got bat bits on the brain bucket, the bikes loaded with gear, I’m rolling 35mph in a 55, and I’m jack hammering from the cold wet Bama delights. I’ve got a pistol in one jacket pocket and a little flask of Makers Mark burbon in the other. This could get ugly. I have a cc permit from Florida, presumably reciprocal with Al., but the flask could be, uh, troublesome?
Young LEO, “license, registration etc!”
Older Leo, “this guys no trouble.”
Young LEO, “how do we know he’s no trouble?”
Older LEO “cause I said so.”
Me, “where’s the closest motel?” “Thanx!” “The rain is right behind me, y’all better gear up.