Why hesitate to sue?  Legal action seems to be the ONLY thing the cops understand and even that isn't a guarantee until the city council finally gets tired of paying out huge settlements.  This is disgusting (I was in the military police) - I never understand why the police always push the envelope instead of being on the side of (legal) caution.  I always told my patrol MPs that there's always a next time - karma will always get the real criminals - ALWAYS (because they get bolder each time the "get away" with it.