Based on my LE experience, which may differ from other LEOs, herewith my thoughts.
To begin with, being in a Sheriff's Dept rather than a PD, we were solo and often distant from back up. So to make the generalization that when an LEO chooses to use gas, there is usually another LEO close by with gun drawn is conclusionary rather than factual. Not so in my field experience. When I was our patrol division commander (three stations) one of my responsibilities was to monitor all use of force incidents to make sure my troops were legal and in departmental compliance. I never read of such an incident. Often in (at this point in such an incident) deadly force was not yet legal, and the use of the gas was often followed by grappling. In this instance another LEO, in order to holster and secure a firearm, would take up critical time best used to subdue the offender(s).
Needless to say, we were not trained to have a back up LEO with firearm drawn, nor did CA POST so advocate, because it is not possible.
Without using much imagination, it is as easy to envision situations where OC would be justified, but deadly force would not be. I will be glad to supply examples of such if necessary.
When I was teaching the state mandated CCW course I did supply examples, but this of course was for non LEOs who may have not had such social experience. Since I taught this course in our church, we sold OC spray as part of our church fund raising. Since I took no money for my teaching, all in all it became a significant fund raiser for the church.
This class discussion led to a lot of OC being sold.
Teaching the CCW course in our church, under the protection of the first and second amendments, was an example of our constitution working as it should. I think the blindfolded lady holding the scales of justice would be proud. My students, a conservative population, even in CA, took pride in how the American system can work.
For myself, I carry OC along with Mr. Glock. If we are in the back country in my open Jeep Wrangler, I carry a canister of bear spray. From time to time there are instances of either pot growers or just opportunistic bullies looking to harass outnumbered people. We have no cell coverage, and too far from help anyway. I do have the pistol if I decide I need it. But I have never been one to get anywhere near the panic button. I figure with the quantity of OC in a bear canister, I could effectively stop such an attack. I would prefer to take my chances on that instead of just drawing my firearm before such would be justified (given CA PC #417, et al on brandishing, exhibiting, or presenting).
I have been retired for almost 30 years. In that time I almost drew my pistol just once in a situation in which I would have to intervene to protect an unknown-to-me third person. The arrival of San Francisco PD just prior to my announcing my presence and drawing ended that. I have never had, off duty as well as retired, any necessity to exhibit or use OC/tear gas.
So demonstrably I have never been one to initiate incidents by myself.
But I still feel the need to be prepared, and hope that never happens.
