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There was a similar, though less spectacular, case in the UK, in which the police spent more on lawyers successfully defending the case than it would have cost to compensate the person whose door they had smashed down in the middle of the night because they had incompetently got the wrong address.

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Establishing precedent is important, especially in common law jurisdictions.

Not causing the general public to fear and mistrust the police is even more important.

Wouldn’t law enforcement getting away with crimes cause fear? It seems like it would show they are above the law and can act like bullies without repercussions.

Admitting a mistake and trying to make it right will gain trust.

Yes that is what I was saying.

too late

Depends on the country.

I wonder how that squares with the Peelian principles, policing by consent, in the UK. Do you have a reference?

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