***SPOILERS*** Leslie Nielsen is the dying from a serious heart condition SFPD Inspector John Connor who's obsessed to get mob kingpin Royce, Ray Danton, before his heart gives out. With no one not even his partner of 12 years Murray, James Wainwright, knowing the seriousness of his condition Connors plans to knock off Royce before he ends up dying so that he can die in peace. A peace in knowing that Royce will not be around to hurt anyone anymore.
It takes a while but the police with the sharp eye of Inspector Steve Keller played by Michael Douglas who spotted Connors at a mob funeral of a hood that he himself killed, Royce's assistant Sully, that it was determined that he was up to no good and had a tail put on him. That tail lead to the local racetrack Bay Medows where one of Royce's horses was due to run that afternoon.
***SPOILERS*** As thing turned out Connors messed up killing Royce but ended up getting himself killed by his very reluctant partner Murray instead who tried every which way to get him to give himself up. That only proved that by not letting the law run it's course Connors ended up dead as a door nail despite the good deed he was planning to do, knock off Royce, but was in no condition, with a bad heart and mixed up brain, to do himself.