"I guess that he had just enough smarts to know that if he went after them it would be difficult even for these excuses for law officers not to do something." - Jacqui C
Unfortunately, the abuser is not a rational human being. The law or the actions of the police probably have no effect on his behaviour. When enraged, he can't think that far ahead.
Quite often we try to apply rational or logical thought when dealing with abusers. This is dangerous because you cannot make sense of the actions of the insane.