[Catspaw]

Essentially, Matthews decided on this course of conduct over four years prior to his murder of Officer Taylor: he was going to kill any cop that got in his way, and he followed through on those threats.

[basil]

After reading all of this stuff, I can't help but wonder if this mad man planned this thing. It sounds to me like he was itching for a showdown with the police.

[ResistorSister]

he was going to kill any cop that got in his way

Yep...that was his bottom line...and his pride would not let him rethink the stupidity of that bottom line.