Why didn't Kolchak's Friend Help?

How long would he have kept his job with the FBI if he went on the record saying he had encountered a real vampire?







Time of your life, huh, kid?

The authorities are covering the whole vampire business up so that it won't scare away the tourists(although it may also attract just as many!).Plus,you have to remember that Kolchak had alienated himself to all of them(especially the sheriff) so they took advantage of the opportunity to force him out.
Bernie was just scared for his job and reputation,so didn't back Kolchak up,but it wouldn't have helped anyway.Kolchak did return to Las Vegas anyway two years later in the T.V. series,in the episode 'The Vampire',a semi-sequel to this film.

Jenks sacrificed Kolchak and Gail to protect himself for whatever reason.

All Jenks had to do was say "Self defense". But he didn't.

It fits with the whole theme of the movie....that coverups and keeping things quiet are part of the machine. Clearly the FBI wanted to cover the whole thing up as much as the Vegas guys did.

"Do I look to be in a gaming mood?"

He cared about keeping his job more than sticking to his friend and telling the truth.

"Do All Things For God's Glory"-1 Corinthians 10:31
I try doing this with my posts

I had an issue with that scene as well. Judging by the abrasiveness of D.A. Paine and Sheriff Butcher, they probably threatened Jenks with slapping a murder rap on him if he went on the record in regards to what went down in Skorzenys house. It would of been difficult to charge Kolchak and not Jenks, simply because Jenks was there. By the look on Jenks face in the meeting, it was obvious Butcher and Paine told him to stand down prior to Kolchaks arrival. I also feel that Jenks feared that the Bureau would transfer him out of the Las Vegas Metro field office because he wasn't getting along with the local law enforcement agencies. In my opinion, Jenks is weak, pathetic even with no moral compass. He made the Bureau appear inept.