Other mistake: In the scene where LL catches up to the suspect running from him, it is obvious that LL never really puts the handcuffs on the suspect. You can hear the noise but he is not being cuffed.
Other mistake: After taking their "road trip" way out in the desert and dropping Montel off at the penitentiary at the end of the movie, they are just getting back on the road and Hondo says that they will respond to the "211 in progress" at the diamond mart back in L.A. The camera shot then makes a point to show that they are out in Joshua trees miles from anywhere.
Chosen answer: Because he was offered a lot of money. $100 million is a lot of money to turn down for someone on a policeman's salary.
LorgSkyegon