Uh no.
I am not saying this is a good thing, just that it does happen. And the prerequisite to it happening is incompetence and indifference to the law by higher authorities.
Importantly, it only happens after police at the street level have tried every legal means at their disposal to protect the public. And it does not happen in isolation, but with a host of other alternative means to stop crime.
Take Baltimore, for example. The local government orders the police to not enforce the law, and to let rioters loot and commit arson. The first major police response is to obey, and not enforce the law, which results in a bloodbath and an outraged public. The local government then *blames* the police for the chaos. Police morale hits rock bottom.
What I mentioned is an extreme. Typically it only happens to multiple child molester/murderers guilty beyond any doubt. Men who even convicted prisoners despise so much that they will murder in prison. The other group are the active multiple murderers and hardened criminals. The police know there is no redemption for them and that they are as dangerous as rabid dogs.
The bottom line is that this is not easy for the police, and goes against the grain. They hate to do it because they hate having to do it. But they feel they have no other choice. If they do not act, innocent people will suffer and die, and they will have failed in their purpose.