I felt that was just one of a string of poorly executed points in the film. There was no reason for him to follow the guy so blatantly. Plus if it was an international hunt for a master criminal you'd think they could age spared another officer or two. Other strange decisions include:

Why Kindler didn't push his wife off the ladder at the end, instead of helping her up and then telling her he was going to kill her (by making her fall).

Why the cops searching for Kindler didn't search the clocktower, where he always was.

Why and how Mr Wilson appeared to raise a baying mob after Kindler without having yet secured his evidence of Kindler's identity.

Why Mr Wilson was happily trying to shoot Kindler at a time when Kindler was disarmed (given Wilson was so precious about following procedure and securing evidence).

Why Kindler told Meinke to meet him out of sight in the woods (to be discreet), then embraced him there in sight of a group of boys.

The really weird gymnasium assault, using one of the rings from long distance.

Wilson telling Mary's father that he hopes his investigative method won't get Mary killed, and the father seeming unconcerned.

Add in some incredibly unsubtle performances by the leads and a frankly hilarious finale for Kindler and the only salvation I found in this film was that it was nicely shot. Remove the nameplates and this is just a bad film, really bad!

3/10