However, after talking to others, it seems that when Vic sees the cop cars go by, and sees their numbers, and has his gun, perhaps . . . he's going to go spring Ronnie out. You get the sense that Vic Mackey is never defeated.
And for me, the question was never was Vic a "good" person: it was the Jack Nicholson line, "You want him on that wall, you NEED him on that wall." And, in fact, we do.
Interesting take. To me, he saw the cars go by, sirens blazing, and really realized that he was never going to see the street action ever again. He took out the gun, made everyone think he’s contemplating pulling a “Shane,” then chuckled and put the gun away as he walked off, as if to say, “It doesn’t matter. I’m free. I made it.”