I don't think it's the gear that that makes a cop friendly and helpful looking, it's the attitude and the history.
To your point about Europe, cops stand on corners at the ready with heavy body armor, automatic weapons, finger at rest against trigger, cigarette dangling, and the coolest look on Earth. Somehow they don't intimidate though they look like they could take out a gang of 12 in a heart beat.
No one hesitates to approach them and ask directions, get a light or just shoot the shit.
They tend to ignore petty BS like speeding 10 over and pick pockets. They are after terrorist, violent criminals and the like.
i love that PM12 he's carrying.
