Binjiang Police Affairs

Chapter 1459 - 247: Unit Upgrade!

8:30 a.m., Changhang Bureau.Director Qi received congratulatory calls from Wang Wenhong, Sister Zhu, and Director Zeng successively as soon as he started work.

He dared not delay for a moment. After thanking these "neighbors," he immediately called the director in Hanwu to report.

"Zhikun, what’s up?"

"Director Sun, our bureau’s Salted Fish made it onto the news broadcast!"

"Salted Fish on the news broadcast, when did that happen?"

"Last night. Last night’s news broadcast covered the Navy fleet’s visit to South Africa. There was footage of Salted Fish at the dock meeting the Overseas Chinese in South Africa. He shook hands and took photos with them under the warships, wearing a Navy uniform, not a police uniform, you wouldn’t recognize him if you weren’t paying attention."

With the subordinate gaining significant exposure, Director Sun was pleased and couldn’t help but laugh: "He accompanied the Navy fleet on their visit; wearing a police uniform would be inappropriate, and besides, he’s originally a Navy Reserve Officer!"

Director Qi invited Political Commissioner Dong and Li Guangrong to sit as he smiled while holding the phone: "Actually, he arrived in South Africa five days ago. He made an international long-distance call to assure me of his safety on the day the fleet reached Cape Town. I thought such a big event would be covered by the Central Television, so I watched the evening news broadcast and the Central Channel Military program every day, but it wasn’t aired until last night."

"That’s quite normal."

Director Sun laughed heartily: "The news was shot in South Africa; it takes time to film and send it back home. Once it’s received domestically, it needs editing. Moreover, so many significant events happen domestically and internationally every day, and the news broadcast only lasts so long, just like publishing an article in the Yangtze River Shipping News requires queuing.

Whether it airs on the day doesn’t matter; what’s important is that it aired! There should be a rerun today, so quickly arrange for the bureau’s officers to watch it. I’ll also inform the political department to organize the bureau’s staff to watch it."

With the director in a good mood, some matters became easier to discuss.

Previously, to get Fang Guoya from the Binjiang Port Group and also to mend relations with Binjiang Port Group, Director Qi and Minister Yang performed a double act, but it backfired!

The group’s executive vice president proposed integrating Fang Guoya into the bureau’s Party committee to enhance "leadership" over the Changhang Bureau.

Regarding qualifications, Fang Guoya serving as the Fire Brigade Captain poses no issue.

After all, being a cadre transferred from the Standard Camp-level, he has achieved much during his tenure at Changhang Bureau and Binjiang Port Group. It’s no exaggeration that a majority of fires occurring in Binjiang waters and shoreline were extinguished by him leading the enterprise fire brigade into peril.

But entering the bureau’s Party committee is quite unrealistic.

Remember, joining the bureau’s Party committee means becoming bureau leadership, and Fang Guoya’s time at the bureau is short. Even Chen Zikun, with a proper undergraduate degree, has diligently worked at the grassroots for several years, participated in flood emergency rescue during the study in Hanwu, and only this year gained true recognition from superiors and was entrusted with significant responsibilities.

For an outsider like Fang Guoya, becoming a captain was already quite challenging, imagining reaching bureau leadership in one leap is impossible.

If there were choices, Director Qi would prefer someone from Hanwu descending from above to replace Li Mingsheng rather than deal with this.

However, there are no other choices.

Nobody knows when Changhang Police will switch to an administrative system; without it, remaining reliant on the Binjiang Port Group’s support is essential, or nothing can proceed.

Director Qi was helpless, so he seized the opportunity while Director Sun was in a good mood to nervously ask: "Director Sun, what is the bureau’s consideration on the matter I reported the day before yesterday? President Xu at Binjiang Port Group had Minister Yang call again early this morning asking about it. If this matter stalls any longer, discussing separation will be impossible."

They couldn’t say they antagonized their "benefactor" while filling the vacuum created by the Fire Brigade; instead, they used negotiations about "separation" as a pretext to request feedback from superiors.

Political Commissioner Dong and Li Guangrong were equally tense because, on this issue, they were like grasshoppers tied to the same rope, not wanting to see public security or auxiliary police wages being withheld.

"You mean the matter of the Binjiang Port Group wanting their Fire Brigade captain integrated into the bureau’s Party committee?"

"Yes."

"Yesterday, the political department reported on that Fire Brigade captain’s profile, stemming from the Firefighting Police, naturally transitioned, having worked in our Changhang Police System, then did well at Binjiang Port Enterprise Fire Brigade, but his position at Binjiang Port is merely Director-level."

Director Sun flipped through a heavily scheduled calendar, continuing: "We can comprehend why Binjiang Port Group wants him integrated into the bureau’s Party committee. After all, Binjiang Port Group is his parent company, now that he’s returning to our Changhang Police System, the parent company naturally wants to send him off."

No wonder he’s a leader, what perspective!

Director Qi secretly admired, then pretended to be troubled, saying: "The issue is their request is quite excessive."

"Thus it’s essential to convince Binjiang Port Group leadership."

Director Sun smiled, following by changing the subject: "Contrarily, our funding has relied entirely on port and shipping enterprises over the decades. Although this was mandated by the superiors, not our insistence, it undeniably imposed a burden on their production and operations. Moreover, numerous tasks after separation will still necessitate their support.

In essence, while we cannot let that Fire Brigade captain into the bureau’s Party committee, we must accommodate their requests as much as possible, at least allowing the group’s leadership some face-saving. In reality, this issue concerns not only your bureau but several others."

The director not only understands the rationale but also considers his subordinates.

Director Qi felt touched, couldn’t help inquiring: "Director Sun, how do we accommodate as much of their requests?"

"Ask the group leadership first, how about raising that Fire Brigade captain to Deputy Department level?"

"Raising to Deputy Department level!"

"Yes, if the group leadership agrees, please have the group promote that Fire Brigade captain first, appointing him to a Deputy Department level equivalent position to formally transfer him back to our Changhang Police System. This should simplify the process, eliminating the cumbersome exchange and inclusion processes."

Is Fang Guoya really being raised to Deputy Department level?

Director Qi couldn’t believe his ears.

Director Dong and Li Guangrong were equally astonished, one wondering about Fang Guoya’s incredible luck, the other pondering since when Deputy Department level became so trivial.

"Director Sun." Director Qi recovered his senses, asking with a bitter smile: "Raising a level before transferring, Binjiang Port Group leadership surely will agree, but the issue is, do we have the position for him?"

"Previously no, now we have, and quite many."

"Quite many?"

Some matters needn’t be confidential anymore given the forthcoming major adjustments in the staffing.

Director Sun lit a cigarette and smiled as he explained: "We used to be the ’Internal Security’ of port and shipping enterprises, once transformed, we become civil servants, officially public security police, tasked with heavy responsibilities. Our jurisdiction’s complexity can be described as scattered points along lengthy lines.

One police station’s jurisdiction might span across two or three districts; one bureau’s jurisdiction could cross two or three municipalities. Properly maintaining jurisdictional security and managing firefighting safety necessitates local police and local government support.

Yet, in all tasks, parity matters. Meaning, grassroots police station’s current administrative levels are too low, hindering future operations. After multiple research, the bureau’s Party committee officially requested raising grassroots police station’s administrative levels, and the superiors agreed in principle."

Director Qi was prompted to ask: "Police stations elevated to Deputy Department level units?"

"If elevating police stations alone to Deputy Department level units, then tasks for bureaus’ internal divisions like security, criminal investigation, and fire brigades become challenging, therefore not only police stations need elevation, but security, criminal investigation, and fire divisions also."

Director Sun tapped out the ash, thoughtfully remarking: "The uniqueness of our work mandates that our officers work by the river or even on the river, facing cold winters on ships, hot summers onboard, enduring hardships with wages lacking appeal enhances promotion channels to stimulate police morale."

"Director Sun, you’re so considerate of us subordinates, I... I..."

"Stop flattering me, this is my responsibility, treating officers shouldn’t remain only on paper." Director Sun laughed, continuing: "That’s settled regarding the Fire Brigade captain, rush and make arrangements. As for post-elevation candidates for station directors and division chiefs, your bureau’s Party committee should first deliberate, then recommend to the political department, which will consider practical circumstances."

"Yes, thank you Director Sun!"

...

After placing the phone, Political Commissioner Dong finally regained composure, exclaiming: "If actual elevation happens, our bureau alone would add seven Deputy Department level positions!"

"Seven positions? No, how about fourteen."

"Nearly forgot, station instructors also need raising to Deputy Department, internal divisions must have political commissioners, who are equally Deputy Department."

"This is great news, just like Director Sun mentioned on the call earlier, it truly can boost comrades’ work enthusiasm."

"Certainly, more positions mean hope for comrades." Li Guangrong nodded, sighed lightly thinking further: "Li Mingsheng’s luck wasn’t favorable, if no issues arose, his qualifications would surely earn Deputy Department elevation. Unfortunately, he caused a significant blunder at the crucial moment, even with our recommendation, superiors won’t consider him."

Director Qi nodded, pondering: "Jiang Youwei finally found relief, Liu Gui Xiang doesn’t need transferring to a police station either."

Political Commissioner Dong concurred: "The Criminal Investigation Team originally lacked criminal detectives, resolving Gui Xiang’s position indeed removes the need for reassignment."

"Now there’s the issue with Linghai Police Station, if no elevation occurred, having Zhang Ping as director would be perfectly logical. Yet with unit elevation, his qualifications make Deputy Department elevation inappropriate."

"Then let him stay as deputy director, Director Qi, this isn’t a problem; if it were, I’d wish such issues persisted daily."

"True enough, hahahahaha."