It would be if the people behind it had to pay, instead of the public.
The article says the officers agreed to the settlement so I take that as inferring they are paying. But likely you are still correct, local taxpayers will pay it. Hopefully they will demand these officers be fired as well. And with this on their record, how can these officers have any standing in court against future defendents?
Things like this should be paid out of the police pension fund.