A few years ago a more experienced officer gave me this tip that has worked for me and my coworkers. The officer applied reflective tape to his black, metal patrol flashlight (including the end cap). When you have the flashlight deployed, the tape reflects light even if the light is pointed in another direction or if the light stops working.
If for some reason you need to become less visible, the light can be quickly dropped or covered. An added bonus is that the tape makes it easier to locate the flashlight if it gets dropped or falls.
The tape also makes it easier to maintain a grip on the light.