I'm not arguing the $ front...but how much is living in a society where the police can't steal from you without penalty worth again? The attitude of "well, gun's not worth that much" is exactly why they are able to pull this shit. All it takes for evil to prevail is that good men do nothing. In this case, the police are evil because they stole the gun in all likelihood (evidence doesn't just "get destroyed" by storage in a locker) and they will prevail because no one is willing to saddle up and call them out on their bullshit and make them pay.
Good luck with that.