Continuity mistake: At the convenience store, Robocop stops the burglar from fleeing by knocking him on the jaw, making him fall backwards. A frame later Robocop's arm is extended and the man is flying forward, falling face first.
Continuity mistake: When the ED-209 shots and kills the guy in the suit, his body changes angle and position with respect to the robot.
Continuity mistake: Robocop is being hounded by reporters through his view point at the City Hall. When the camera switches back, he is away from them, near a car.
Continuity mistake: When Reed is going to Fredrickson's locker, his left hand is going to the handle. In the next shot, as he is taking the nameplate off, you see his fingers of the left hand by the nameplate.
Continuity mistake: The final fight scene at the ruined industry area starts in darkness, but ends at daylight, switching several times.
Continuity mistake: At the shooting range, the bullet holes on Murphy's cardboard target differ between the front and back shots.
Continuity mistake: After the ED-209 kills the business man, the blood on the city scale model disappears. (00:12:00)
Continuity mistake: When Dick Jones goes to see the head of OCP, he leaves the door ajar. However, later in the scene it is closed. Neither of the men in the room goes near it.
Continuity mistake: The first time Murphy is chasing the criminal van, the headlights on the police Taurus change from double round to single square (stock) repeatedly throughout the scene.
Continuity mistake: In the scene where Lewis is hit by the black guy at the steel mill, her body changes direction when she falls.
Continuity mistake: The first day together, Murphy and Lewis are in the car exiting the police station. When the angle changes to a back view of the car, Lewis is gone. (00:06:30)
Answer: Because he knew he was doing illegal activities. Robocop was said to be highly efficient at his job and Jones did not want to risk him out on the streets without the insurance of shutting him down if Robo came after him.
MasterOfAll