While off-the-clock, out of uniform, I assisted a lone deputy, in handcuffing a group. I do not recall what I said to the deputy as I approached, but having at least one pair of cuffs, clearly visible, and approaching the bad guys, from well off to the deputy’s 10 o’clock, helped visually indicate I was there to intervene on behalf of the “good guy.” (I was not carrying handcuffs on my person, but saw this happening, while driving, so had access to cuffs inside my vehicle.)
This does not mean that I am recommending that an untrained person “go hands.” The act of hand-cuffing, especially a hardened felon, is a perilous act for the untrained. Holding a weapon, while hand-cuffing, is normally a BAD idea. (The best place for one’s handgun, while performing the act of handcuffing, is a Level III holster.)
Another time, I saw a deputy, on a traffic stop, giving commands to a less-than-compliant motorist. I turned at the next street, then U-turned and parked, flanking the motorist, at a very adequate distance, and made a clear series of gestures that the deputy recognized as indicating I was acting to support him, as needed. The motorist became compliant, and my status never went beyond observation.
I did not draw a weapon, in either circumstance. Even if the primary deputies, in each case, knew I was a good guy, in each of the above cases, an arriving back-up deputy/officer might not have recognized me as a good guy.
There were other times I approached co-workers, who knew me, and verbally let them know I there to assist.
None of these incidents, thankfully, have involved gunfighting. Yet.