To the extent it constitutes legal evidence, it may be less believable precisely because this give police commissioners power that they may be exercising in corrupt and power-hungry ways.
You need to consider costs as well. The cost of a legal statment is much higher, in that the commissioner faces perjury charges if he utters a lie in court. But most importantly of all, is expected to back up his statement with solid evidence or a solid story of how he came to believe that X is a kingpin (both of which increase the chance of him being found out, if he is indeed lying).
To the extent it constitutes legal evidence, it may be less believable precisely because this give police commissioners power that they may be exercising in corrupt and power-hungry ways.
You need to consider costs as well. The cost of a legal statment is much higher, in that the commissioner faces perjury charges if he utters a lie in court. But most importantly of all, is expected to back up his statement with solid evidence or a solid story of how he came to believe that X is a kingpin (both of which increase the chance of him being found out, if he is indeed lying).