Absolute power in officialdom

Chapter 78 Power Sniper

When Chen Xiangyang saw Zhang Wanlin lying dead, his face turned ashen, and a surge of anger rose within him.

He demanded sharply, "Who fired the shot? Who fired the shot! The order was to capture him alive, not to kill him unless absolutely necessary. Who gave the order to kill him?"

"Report to Chief Chen! No shots have been fired from sniper position number one!"

"No shots were fired from sniper position number two!"

……

Everyone denies firing a shot!

This shot came from an unplanned third party! It was a blatant attempt to silence him!

Just as Chen Xiangyang was burning with anger, a lean, middle-aged man with a cold expression walked over, carrying a high-precision sniper rifle.

He walked up to Chen Xiangyang and said calmly, "Reporting to Director Chen! I am Wu Bao, Deputy Chief of the Special Police Detachment of Longcheng Public Security Bureau. I fired the shot!"

Chen Xiangyang stared at Wu Bao, suppressing his anger, and asked, word by word, "Wu Bao? Who told you to fire? Zhang Wanlin is a key suspect, his involvement is crucial, and he must be captured alive!"

Why shoot and kill a target who has clearly surrendered?

Also, why are you here?

This sniper position wasn't in our deployment plan! Who let you come?!

Faced with Chen Xiangyang's rapid-fire questioning, Wu Bao showed no panic and answered according to his pre-arranged statement: "Reporting to Director Chen! The situation was extremely critical at the time!"

I observed that although Zhang Wanlin raised his hand, his movements were hesitant and his eyes were darting around, making it impossible to determine whether he was hiding other weapons or had any intention of feigning surrender!

To ensure the absolute safety of all comrades involved in the operation and to prevent the suspect from taking desperate measures and causing greater casualties, I made a decisive and lawful decision to take action to kill him based on my assessment of the situation.

I believe my actions were in accordance with relevant regulations!

As for my position, it was the best sniping spot chosen on the spot based on the terrain, which would allow me to have complete control of the situation!

"Bullshit!" Chen Xiangyang couldn't hold back any longer and cursed, "He has no weapons left!"

The surrender was clear! So many eyes saw it! You…”

Before he could finish speaking, a somber and authoritative voice came from behind the crowd, interrupting him.

"Deputy Director Chen, you're really angry! Are you questioning the professional judgment of the Longcheng police in handling emergencies?"

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw Tao Sizhong, a member of the Standing Committee of the Municipal Party Committee and Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, walking over with a cold expression.

He glanced at Zhang Wanlin's corpse on the ground, feeling extremely smug. The plan was generally successful. As long as Zhang Wanlin was killed, the plan would be a success. The dead cannot speak. The only regret was that Zhang Wanlin was killed when he surrendered.

"Secretary Tao? What are you doing here?" Chen Xiangyang was extremely surprised. Tao Sizhong's appearance was too coincidental!

Tao Sizhong snorted coldly, his tone filled with strong dissatisfaction and a condescending question: "What am I doing here? Deputy Director Chen, that's what I should be asking you!"

Such a large-scale arrest operation targeted Zhang Wanlin, a well-known private entrepreneur and representative of the Municipal People's Congress in our city!

"Your provincial department handled the case by completely keeping me, the secretary of the municipal political and legal committee, in the dark. Isn't that highly irregular and shows a complete disregard for our local party committee and government?"

He preemptively attacked, then turned the tables, attempting to seize the moral and procedural high ground.

Chen Xiangyang suppressed his anger and tried to remain calm: "Secretary Tao, this is Operation 'Sharp Sword' personally directed by Liu Zhenwu, Secretary of the Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission. It's highly confidential to ensure the success of the operation and prevent leaks..."

"Prevent what? Prevent me, Tao Sizhong, from tipping you off?" Tao Sizhong interrupted him rudely, raising his voice and speaking angrily, "I have no objection to Secretary Liu personally directing things! But do we still need to talk about basic organizational principles and procedures?"

I, Tao Sizhong, am still a member of the Standing Committee of the Longcheng Municipal Party Committee and Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission!

Within my jurisdiction, such a large number of police officers were mobilized for such a major operation, and there wasn't even a most basic notification!

"If something goes wrong and triggers a mass incident, or causes serious casualties, who will bear the responsibility? Can you, Chen Xiangyang, afford to bear it?"

He then changed the subject, pointing at Wu Bao: "Fortunately! Tonight I'm carrying out an important security and stability maintenance mission in the nearby development zone!"

Hearing the intense gunfire, he realized something serious might have happened and immediately led his men to provide support.

I happened to see Comrade Wu Bao on high ground, and his response was very professional.

The situation was extremely critical. Zhang Wanlin resisted arrest with a gun, seriously threatening the lives of our officers.

In accordance with the relevant provisions of the "Regulations on the Use of Police Equipment and Weapons by the People's Police", I hereby authorize Wu Bao to use weapons on the spot if warnings are ineffective and the perpetrators who resist arrest and endanger the lives of others.

Comrade Wu Bao acted decisively, killing the enemy in one strike, eliminating a major security threat, and protecting the safety of his comrades. This is a great achievement!

Deputy Director Chen, it's one thing if you don't praise me, but why do you have to criticize me?

Are you only satisfied when our officers bleed and sacrifice their lives?

Tao Sizhong's words were a distortion of the truth and a sophistry. He not only glorified his act of silencing the witness as a meritorious deed, but also placed Chen Xiangyang, who was carrying out the arrest in accordance with the law, in an awkward position of disregarding procedures, being harsh on a meritorious person, and ignoring the safety of his comrades!

Chen Xiangyang trembled with rage, pointing to the discarded pistol next to Zhang Wanlin's body: "Secretary Tao! He had already thrown away his weapon and surrendered!"

It wasn't a desperate resistance at all! The body camera footage and all these officers can testify to that!

"Surrender?" Tao Sizhong sneered, kicking Zhang Wanlin's corpse with his toe. "Deputy Director Chen, you're too naive! How many cases have you handled?"

Don't you understand the cunning of this desperate criminal? Who knows if he's feigning surrender?

Who knows if he has grenades or daggers hidden on his body or in his waistband?

What if he pretends to surrender and then suddenly attacks when our officers get close, causing casualties? Can you bear the responsibility for that?

In a split second, Wu Bao made the best decision to protect his comrades, preferring to risk misjudgment rather than put his fellow soldiers in danger! What's wrong with that?

Even if Zhang Wanlin had truly surrendered, in that critical situation with gunfire and rapid changes, who could make a 100% accurate judgment?

Who can guarantee there won't be a second or third armed robber?

Comrade Wu Bao's act of shooting and killing a notorious criminal who endangered public safety was both legally justified and morally reasonable!

You want to hold someone accountable? Fine, I'll take full responsibility!

"It was I, Tao Sizhong, who gave the order on the spot! Let's see who dares to touch our meritorious officers of the Longcheng Police!"

Tao Sizhong's imposing manner completely overwhelmed Chen Xiangyang.

He used his position, power, and sophistry to twist a blatant murder into a feat of "making a last-minute decision and killing a ruthless criminal in accordance with the law."

Chen Xiangyang knew that arguing on Tao Sizhong's turf was pointless and might even lead to a more passive situation.

He forced himself to calm down and said coldly, "Secretary Tao, the actual situation on the ground cannot be determined by just one person's words!"

There are body cameras, ballistic marks, and on-site investigation results!

I will report this matter truthfully to Secretary Liu Zhenwu and Secretary Xu Youwei, word for word! The decision will be made by them!

This is now the scene of a special case handled by the provincial department, and our colleagues from the provincial department must take over the investigation! All evidence must be strictly sealed!

Please cooperate with your colleagues from the Municipal Bureau and evacuate the core area!