Spoiler questions

Was it really all about money/funding that made the Patterson character not haul in the real killer? I didn't "get" why if he knew in his "gut" he really was the killer of the two crimes. Especially if he felt Ben was innocent. Or that they didn't even "look" for another possibility. Maybe all cop shows do this, but Lenny Briscoe wouldn't!

And what's this about another series? I'll have to look for it. Found this one on Netflix July 2012.