I have some sympathy for LEOs here, as they have to deal with a lot of dangerous basket cases. That is why I am in pursuit of etiquette, with the hope of achieving the following:
1) “Hey, I’m a good guy, not a threat, or the threat you are currently looking for.”
2) “I am armed, but not hostile, so no big deal. Do not add me or my gun to your stress level.”
3) (for example) “I need to secure my gun in my lock box, which requires I unholster it, and hold it in my hand while checking it for safety. I do not want to upset you while doing this. Also, I intend to do this in a safe manner, to avoid the chance of an accidental discharge.”
There are lots of hypotheticals, here, but etiquette rules only work if everybody knows them.
There’s a local 20 something around here who looks like he just stepped out of a mad max movie (Mohawk, tattoos, piercings etc) and he’s big on open carry.
He says he’s been disarmed by police more times than he can count but strongly suggests the calm compliance method. He doesn’t like it but says its to be expected till they learn. He says local cops don’t even give him a second look anymore.
The State trooper neighbor borrowed my .38 over the fence one day because he knew I carried snake shot in it. He was an educated LEO.
Educate the LEO. Situational awareness would be a good start.
I don't announce that I've got a screwdriver, axe, hydraulic jack, or wrench. Why should I announce any other tool?
/johnny
“(for example) “I need to secure my gun in my lock box, which requires I unholster it, and hold it in my hand while checking it for safety. I do not want to upset you while doing this. Also, I intend to do this in a safe manner, to avoid the chance of an accidental discharge.””
That kinda sounds like you intend to handle the gun and are just informing them, but that you are going to do it.
Always a bad idea to remove it from a holster if you arent asked. A VERY bad idea. Better just to ask. But i would very much avoid handling it without their explicit approval and instruction to do so.
Far better to just inform them that you are legally carrying, are no threat, and ask them what to do with it.
But clearing it, putting it a lockbox, etc, is too much fiddling with it if they don’t want you to. Especially if their intent was that it just remain holstered anyway.