Wasn't Pontius Pilate ruthless?

He would govern the area he controlled with a iron fist! He gave the Jews absolutely no power, and was even removed for excessive authority. So why is it in the new testament he allowed the Jews to decide who would be punished, and allowed them to decide the punishment? Wouldn't he just kill Jesus without hesitation? It makes no since that for that moment of time he was a "good" person. I mean I'm not even convinced Jesus was alive, let alone my savior.