It might be good idea!
What your post indicates to me is that it wasn't what you said to those police officers; rather, it was how you said it.
If photographers get defensive to the point of hostility, they'll get nowhere with law enforcement; but if they explain politely and calmly in an education-delivering (rather than right-defending) manner, it may be far more effective.
Good on you for having the courage to do what you did. I imagine many people would not have.