In response to Nutball's comments

This movie was actually good. It's true that it was well-0acted by Spader and Keith, but no that specific detail was not a plot hole.

You actually need to listen to character's view of events. The opening sequence is what the two cops told their superiors, but later in the movie, Spader tells his girl it wasn't him. That's when the movie rewinds and shows his account of what happened.