I don't want to put words in anyone's mouth, but I figured I would share the impression I got from the original post, as I actually read the comment as a good compliment to your own. That is assuming this is the one you were referring to:
I read it to mean that it would be a shame if PSP intentionally roughed up Frein (and then lied about it), because PSP had otherwise conducted themselves in a professional manner throughout this ordeal. As to the "growing skeptic public eye," I assumed that referred to increasingly vocal public outcry about police misconduct - and, possibly, use of force, more specifically. LE taking Frein not only alive, but also entirely unharmed, could be considered a "shining moment," so to speak, for PSP and the broader LE community. A timely counterpoint to what happened in Ferguson, for example. What may have been squandered was that high-profile opportunity to conduct themselves in a way that, though a small step, helped regain confidence and reduce skepticism about police (mis)conduct. (Of course, there is a legitimate racial component to this topic, but that's for another conversation.) Lastly, I read the final sentence as meaning that the trooper at the press conference grossly underestimated the intelligence of the viewing audience when he told us that the "scratch" preexisted Frein's capture - i.e., "you expected us to believe that?!"
P.Falk - I apologize in advance if I put any words in your mouth and please correct anything I incorrectly interpreted or misconstrued!
Hopefully I can help with some of your other questions, as well. 
