Reborn Cat Sheriff

Chapter 43 Controversy
"You mean, things are really getting out of hand?"

Nie Guoqiang's expression was rather unpleasant.

"Qin Long running out covered in blood was seen by many people, and the video was posted online. Plus, the security guard at Galaxy Apartment inadvertently mentioned the cat, so now everyone online is discussing the cat killing someone. However, it doesn't involve Mimi yet, but the municipal party committee seems very unhappy. The secretariat called this morning, demanding that we release the truth as soon as possible and... get rid of the cat..."

Zhu Jun gave a serious report, followed by Li Yiduo.

Upon hearing that Mimi was to be dealt with, Li Yiduo took a step forward to speak. However, Nie Guoqiang glared at him, and he immediately shrank back.

Nie Guoqiang held a burning cigarette between his fingers, but he didn't care about it.

The cigarette was burning hot, so he shoved the butt against the corner of the table: "Dealing with Mimi? Absolutely not! Mimi is the cat of Zhanghe Police Station, not a criminal! Besides, she did a great service this time. How can we kill a hero?"

Zhang Yong's lips twitched, deeply regretting not sending Nie Guoqiang back to his office. This was his desk, his spot; Nie Guoqiang couldn't come here and damage public property just because his office was occupied by a cat.

Damn it, isn't the ashtray in the drawer downstairs?
"The secretariat's idea is to give Mimi enough merit and honor, so that it can 'sacrifice' in a positive light..." Zhu Jun said with difficulty.

Nie Guoqiang glared at him: "Do you believe I'll give you honors and awards right now, send you somewhere else, and put Zhang Ke and Jiang Yiyi as partners again? You have no shame, do you? Those bastards don't even have the guts to say it to me in person?"

"It has nothing to do with me, boss. I was just relaying the information! If I had known, I wouldn't have answered the phone when it rang."

Zhu Jun smiled wryly, deeply regretting his impulsive decision. He knew perfectly well that these kinds of private phone lines usually didn't bring good news, so why didn't he just walk away and ignore it?

He even used Jiang Yiyi to threaten him. Does that idiot Zhang Ke deserve Yiyi?
Zhang Yong interrupted Nie Guoqiang's threat to Zhu Jun, "So what do we do now? Although we all know that Mimi has done a great service, we can understand the public's worries and fears. There are many people who keep pets these days, and they're probably all feeling apprehensive right now, aren't they? This matter has a huge impact, and if it can't be resolved properly, it will indeed put pressure on the government. You know, those people who stir up trouble online don't really care about their reputation."

"Let me think, let me think..."

Nie Guoqiang was also very worried. Zhu Wentao's case was very serious and couldn't possibly be made public before the case was closed. But without revealing the truth, how could he quell the public and online rumors?
"What is that bastard doing now?"

Zhang Yong was a little tired and really wanted Nie Guoqiang to give up his seat.

"Playing dead!"

Nie Guoqiang rolled his eyes: "It's just that I took a shower at the forensic examination department, what's the big deal? It's making a huge fuss and flooding my office, and I'm not even angry yet, but it's already throwing a tantrum."

"It probably thinks you're going to skin it alive inside."

Zhang Yong laughed gleefully.

"Director!"

Suddenly, footsteps and greetings came from outside, startling the people in the office.

Didn't he go to the provincial capital for training?
A slightly overweight middle-aged man with a noticeable beer belly walked past the door, carrying an old briefcase.

He glanced at the people in the office, and although he had already walked past them, he turned back and greeted them with a smile, "You're all here, that's perfect, saves me the trouble of looking for you everywhere. Old Nie, you've really stirred up a big mess for me this time."

"Old Yu, why did you come back early? You didn't even call. I would have come to pick you up myself!"

Nie Guoqiang stood up to greet him, waving his hand and saying, "Don't listen to the nonsense outsiders are talking about. There's nothing serious going on. We've been reporting to you about the situation at the station every day. You know how well we've achieved results lately—remarkable success!"

"You're just spouting nonsense. Do you think I know nothing?"

Yu Zhengwei nodded helplessly to Nie Guoqiang, then went into the office and sat down in Zhang Yong's seat. Nie Guoqiang, Zhang Yong, and Zhu Jun stood in a circle in front of him, listening to Yu Zhengwei's rather helpless words: "Old Huang from the Municipal Party Committee called me. This time, your matter has blown up quite a bit. Even if you have the excuse of handling a case, it can't change the fact that this matter has been spread online and caused a heated discussion. It's like a cat killing someone! Old Nie, you should know what that means."

"Where was the murder committed? You're not dead, are you?"

Li Yiduo, who was hiding in the back, muttered something, but Zhang Yong turned around and glared at him, so he quickly shut up.

Nie Guoqiang understood Yu Zhengwei's predicament and knew that Lin Ge's case was indeed putting the municipal government in a difficult position. He shook his head, took a cigarette from the table, handed it to Yu Zhengwei, lit one for himself, and then sighed helplessly. "Grassroots work in the internet age is tough! No matter how well or poorly you do it, you'll always be judged. Can police matters, police work, be revealed so easily? Do they really think criminals are as innocent as they are in TV dramas? If a little news comes out online, we have to explain, state our attitude, and clarify the situation. Leaving aside whether we should explain or not, just the logic of some cases, once revealed, is tantamount to helping the suspects..."

"I don't want to talk about this anymore," Nie Guoqiang said, looking out the window with a heavy heart.

In recent years, police officers have faced increasingly tougher workloads. The public's lack of understanding and consideration for the police's difficulties is tolerable. However, it's unacceptable for just anyone, whether a passerby or a suspect, to point their phone directly at a police officer's face, without considering the significant trouble this could cause.

Previously, plainclothes officers could easily make arrests, but that's no longer possible. Two videos were posted online, and plainclothes officers with even slightly distinctive features become disposable. What can be done now? Add to that those who have a smattering of legal knowledge but watch too many American and Hong Kong dramas, obstructing investigations with reasons like search warrants and arrest warrants, some of whom are even just bystanders…

Everyone says the fire is urgent, but who understands that the case is just as urgent as the fire?

In recent years, there have been increasing cases of suspects escaping due to obstruction by well-meaning individuals, or relatives lying on the ground and banging their phones on the ground to stage an accident during the arrest process.

Unfortunately, they can't resort to the rough methods they used to employ; they can only try to reason with the suspect in front of the camera. In that time, the suspect has countless opportunities to destroy evidence or escape. Even if they are eventually apprehended and the case solved, isn't the police's time and energy wasted?
There was even an incident recently where the police were forced to prematurely disclose details of a case, which gave the suspect an opportunity to change their testimony and conceal evidence.

Even so, she was still criticized online for not explaining the case clearly enough, and for things like whether there was a wrongful conviction.

Only those involved truly know how much trouble these scattered, miscellaneous items caused the police. But what else could they do but swallow their pride and bear it?

If the control is even slightly stricter, rumors and gossip can ruin the reputation of a police station.

Nie Guoqiang was frustrated for a long time, but finally turned around and stared firmly at Yu Zhengwei, saying, "Anyway, Lao Yu, I absolutely disagree with dealing with Mimi. That's like cutting off our own arm! And I told you last night just how much of a contribution Mimi made this time. Zhu Wentao is a weak-willed man, and in just two days we've already extracted a lot of important information from him. This case is no small matter; Mimi has done a great job!"

"Yes, Chief, Mimi did nothing wrong! As a police cat, it has the right to investigate and stop crimes!"

Li Yiduo interrupted again and was kicked hard by Zhang Yong.

"Police cat?"

Yu Zhengwei turned his head and smiled at Li Yiduo: "Who approved it? Who certified it? Who issued it the police qualification?"

"..."

Li Yiduo was speechless.

As everyone knows, Mimi was picked up by Nie Guoqiang, or rather, she was just a stray cat staying at the police station. She had not received any training at the training center, nor did she have any police file; she was an unlicensed black cat.

Everyone sensed an ominous undertone in Yu Zhengwei's tone. They wanted to offer advice but couldn't find a way, their expressions increasingly conflicted.

"Old Nie, these newcomers don't seem to be up to par!"

Yu Zhengwei looked at Nie Guoqiang again.

"Alright, stop teasing them. You're the head of our Zhanghe Police Station, after all. If you were to betray us, you wouldn't be my partner, Nie Guoqiang."

Nie Guoqiang finally smiled.

"Hey?"

Apart from Zhang Yong, Zhu Jun and Li Yiduo were also taken aback.

"Ha ha……"

Yu Zhengwei finally couldn't help but laugh out loud, then picked up the briefcase from the table and opened it. He took out several documents and placed them on the table: "Take a look, is there any problem? I really pulled a fast one this time, getting the provincial training base to vouch for me and register Mimi's identity. From now on, Mimi is a full-fledged police officer at our Zhanghe Police Station, even higher in rank than you, a mere auxiliary police officer!"

As he spoke, Yu Zhengwei glanced at Li Yiduo, who was practically crawling into the table.

(End of this chapter)