Personally I'd not use either for SD! The 380acp is probably a bit better than the .32 but neither instills much confidence in me! If I had to choose, the 380 would be the one.

Back 100 years ago, it was quite common for officers to carry small caliber handguns. I guess back then the smaller, lighter pistols were not available in larger calibers. For a military officer is was less important as a pistol is only a back up gun and not their main firearm.

Foreign law enforcement officers also carried relatively small caliber handguns but that changed when they saw that 38 special, 9mm and 45 acp was a vast improvement.