It can get that way sometimes. I'm a huge fan of the "soft" approach. Polo shirt uniforms, badge on the belt off to the side. I get a lot farther with "Hi, My name is Matthew, I'm with .... this is all said with a smile and a handshake.
The vests would be used primarily when we conduct joint patrols with the local PD for "Quality of Life" issues, college town, loud parties and trash kind of thing.
It is a pretty interesting job.
I used to be a "Parking Enforcement Officer" (read meter maid,or meter nazi.) My buddies used to come up behind me and as loudly as they could, yell "Put down the quarter and step away from the parking meter!" This could sometimes be a touch on the embarrasing side.
But, I
always got even.