Chapter 678: We Are All Brothers, Saying Thank You Is Too Stiff

Police Chief Bulu was just the police chief; he couldn't enjoy the mayor's treatment, and the reporters weren't that "lenient" toward him.

After he narrated those processes, a reporter immediately asked, "Police Chief Bulu, why did you consider using lethal weapons to stop the crime that was happening, instead of using non-lethal ones?"

"You have batons, or other weapons that won't cause death, why didn't you choose those weapons, but chose to open fire directly?"

"Is there any special reason that prompted you to make such a decision?"

"For example, their refugee status."

Police Chief Bulu looked at that reporter, and the badge hanging on his chest, then shook his head, "I don't quite understand the meaning and purpose of what you are saying; the reason I made these decisions is that they were destroying citizens' private property, and attacking, hurting, and even killing innocent federal citizens."

"As the chief of the city police station, taxpayers pay taxes to pay our wages, so we have the reason, and must protect the safety of taxpayers!"

"When they were threatened with their lives, and our persuasion was ineffective, in order to ensure their legitimate rights and interests, I could only order the police to open fire."

That reporter continued to ask embarrassingly, "Did you know they were refugees before you ordered to open fire?"

This reporter always wanted to hook the police opening fire with the refugee status; Lans had instructed him, and he was also very alert, firmly not falling for it.

If he answered "knew," then tomorrow's newspaper would report "Police Chief clearly knew the suspect was a refugee before ordering to open fire," which looked like there was no problem.

But when it was over-interpreted by people, it would make people feel that it was as if the police chief ordered to kill them because he knew those people were refugees.

He hated these refugees, at least hostile to them.

But what if he answered "didn't know"?

Reporters would write "Police Chief ordered to open fire without knowing the identity and specific situation of these people," although saying so was no problem, how would people who read it think?

Would it be that he didn't even know if these people were criminal suspects, just felt they looked like it, and then ordered to open fire?

Sometimes once public opinion boils, right and wrong are no longer important; what is important is to soothe public opinion.

If there was someone pushing everything behind this, without a doubt, Police Chief Bulu must resign or even possibly accept investigation by superior agencies.

This was a heavy blow to Mayor Williams's prestige; as the "boss" of this city, he couldn't even protect his own people.

When those people in the Bay Area needed to take down the heads of other departments, they could use Police Chief Bulu as an example to persuade them.

Mayor Williams couldn't even protect such an important subordinate as the police chief; do you still expect him to protect you?

Sometimes what the truth is is not important; what is important is what people want.

So any answer was a bad answer; this was a trap!

At this moment, Police Chief Bulu was sweating a bit; he thanked Lans's ancestors for eighteen generations from the bottom of his heart; this was not any dirty words; he was sincere.

Before coming, Lans told him quite a few ways to deal with these reporters, and the difficulties and problems he might face.

Although this question didn't hit the mark completely, the core was hit!

He pursed his lips, "No matter who it is, as long as they dare to hurt innocent federal citizens, I have the courage to draw my gun on them."

"The police are the security guards of the city; our duty is to protect the safety of every federal citizen; it has nothing to do with who the criminal is!"

Mayor Williams and James both showed slightly surprised gazes; originally Mayor Williams intended to interrupt this question, but didn't expect Police Chief Bulu to answer so well.

What he thought was whether Lans was giving advice behind his back, and James just felt that he answered too well!

This question full of traps didn't stump him, and immediately another reporter started to ask.

"Police Chief Bulu, I found that everything you said so far is based on your personal description of us; we cannot judge the authenticity of these things."

"It is also possible that you remembered wrong, or..."

He didn't continue to say it, but smiled, "We want some evidence to prove that everything you said is a fact."

"Instead of being compiled to deal with us."

Mayor Williams frowned; he didn't know that smashing, looting, and burning also happened on the road; he thought only things happened at the demolition site.

Not just him, these reporters also only thought that these terrible things happened at the demolition site, so they would ask this.

Now people are dead or injured; those rioting workers definitely wouldn't have bad brains to splash dirty water on themselves, so there must be buck-passing.

In politics, uncertainty, ambiguity, often means there is deeper operational space.

Mayor Williams wanted to open his mouth, but Police Chief Bulu opened his mouth first, "On the road from the New Port District to the old industrial zone, the rioting refugee group was smashing, looting, and burning shops on the side of the road, and robbing passing pedestrians."

"Now they are in the hospital; you can also go to that side to see it on the spot, and see what the street that has been ravaged by them is like now."

"I must reiterate that all my actions and decisions are based on protecting the property safety and personal safety of federal citizens." "And before I ordered to open fire, I tried to terminate the crime according to relevant regulations but failed, and the criminal personnel had obvious violent resistance to arrest, and might hurt me and my colleagues, so we chose to shoot them."

"If you have solid evidence to accuse me of anything, then I welcome you to report me to the Prosecutor's Office."

"If you don't have this evidence, but want to frame my motive."

His gaze stayed on the faces of several reporters for a while, didn't say anything, but the threat was full!

Mayor Williams nodded slightly; a very suitable statement, reasonable and well-founded, no one could pick out any flaws.

Some reporters originally felt that they could open the situation from Police Chief Bulu, but didn't expect his answer to be so tough and have no flaws; even if they dug a trap, he didn't fall into it.

As for the others here, asking them had no meaning.

Mayor Williams himself was an old politician for decades; his answer would only be more stable than Police Chief Bulu's.

Councilor James, although a new-generation politician in the city, had worked by Mayor Williams's side for so many years and was influenced by his father; even if the answer wasn't bright, it wouldn't be wrong.

As for Arthur...

That guy covered in shit couldn't ask anything.

!

Although unwilling, their embarrassment toward Police Chief Bulu ended.

Police Chief Bulu also returned to stand behind; he finally let out a sigh of relief; the hair in his wide-brimmed police hat was already wet; just in this short while, it had been soaked by sweat.

Next were some reporters who tended to be neutral; Mayor Williams and James could easily deal with the questions they asked.

The press conference ended very quickly; the content issued by this press conference started to spread to the surroundings in a very short time.

Major newspapers that had already finalized their drafts started to rearrange the front-page headlines and printing tasks; they understood that tomorrow's newspaper would have a big explosion!

After the press conference ended, Mayor Williams kept Police Chief Bulu behind; in a small room, he first affirmed the decision and ability of this police chief today.

Then he talked about his performance at the press conference, "You said it very well, showing the sense of responsibility of federal police; were these things you thought of yourself?"

Police Chief Bulu didn't dare to claim credit, "It was all Mr. Lans who instructed me to say so."

Although there was speculation, when he said it, for Mayor Williams, it was still somewhat shocking!

He didn't come, but knew what would happen, and let Police Chief Bulu know how to deal with it.

Even him, at this very moment, was full of confidence in the future, and also felt somewhat afraid of Lans.

Lans, who was more valued by Mayor Williams, valued to the point of having some other emotions, was walking toward the highest building in the naval base.

"Mr. Lans, later I will add a pass to your car, and you can come in directly later!"

The colonel's face was full of smiles; last time he went to Lans's wedding scene to help General Myers send things, and naturally received some gifts from Lans.

The gifts were very good; who could not like those little cuties?

So his attitude was also very good; he was General Myers's confidant, considered a member of the Myers family; he knew very well that there was a cooperative relationship between the whole family and Lans, and it was becoming familiar and developing more deeply.

Maybe later Lans would also become one of their best friends like those representatives of arms groups.

Giving Lans a pass actually only allowed him to drive directly to the downstairs of the headquarters; if he wanted to enter the headquarters, he still needed General Myers or other people in charge to agree.

This kind of worthless favor, giving it was giving it; compared to the benefits he could bring, it actually didn't count for anything.

Lans said a thank you, and asked casually, "Did you finish the cigars last time?"

"I still have some on my side; take some when you leave."

The colonel originally didn't want to smile; he had to maintain his serious image in the military camp, but... he just couldn't help but show a smile, so much so that the patrolling soldiers who happened to pass by didn't believe their eyes!

That tyrant colonel who could scare new recruits to death actually smiled?

"The things are very good; I like them very much!", he said and paused, "Thank you."

"You're welcome!", Lans shook his head indifferently, "We are friends."

"Friends should help each other!"

The colonel was inspired by Lans's personality charm and agreed with his point of view, "Yes, we are friends!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 679 =====