Chapter 130 Conditions for Police Station Expansion

"You wanted Option C, but you wrote it as three options for me to choose from."

"Just tell me directly how many people you need, and I will agree to give you that many."

Tom paused for a moment, "Mr. Mu, adding personnel requires money."

"How much money do you need?"

"For Option C, adding fifteen people, the annual salary plus benefits for each person is roughly between eighty thousand and one hundred thousand. Just for salaries alone, it will cost an extra 1.2 to 1.5 million per year."

"Including new police cars, new equipment, and training costs, the total investment for the first year will not be less than three million."

"Three million." Mu Xin repeated the number, "Three million can more than double the police force in Oxford Town?"

"It's not enough." Tom shook his head, "Three million is just the start. The Police Department needs to be expanded. The current office space is too small; it can't accommodate fifteen more people."

"Do you need to add offices? Or build a new building?" Mu Xin asked.

"Adding a floor will be enough. The current office building has two floors, and there is still space above. Adding a floor will cost about eight hundred thousand to one million."

Mu Xin picked up his cola and took a sip. He remembered the donation from a few months ago, when Tom's hands were shaking, thinking it was a huge sum of money.

Now Tom was sitting in front of him, calmly stating that adding a floor would cost one million, without even blinking.

People are indeed easily spoiled.

"Chief Carter, I approve Option C." Mu Xin put down the cola, "Add fifteen people, add a floor to the Police Department, and get new equipment and new police cars—all to the highest standard."

"But I have two conditions."

Tom leaned forward slightly, his expression becoming serious.

"First, I want to participate in the recruitment of these fifteen new police officers. Not that I will conduct the interviews, but I want to send someone to observe."

"I need to know that everyone entering the Oxford Town Police Department is reliable."

"It's not just about having strong abilities; their character, background, and values all need to withstand scrutiny."

"This scrutiny will be done by John's security company."

Tom frowned slightly, "Mr. Mu, letting a private security company vet police candidates, this..."

"This isn't vetting." Mu Xin interrupted him, "It's a background check."

"John's team are all retired special forces soldiers. They have connections to access the Federal Bureau of Investigation database and the National Crime Information Center."

"They do background checks more professionally and thoroughly than your Police Department can."

"Besides, I don't want them to audit who can be a police officer and who cannot; I just want them to ensure that everyone who comes in is not a remnant of the Williams Family, nor anyone who could pose a threat to Oxford Town."

Tom was silent. Having been a police officer for over twenty years, he knew better than anyone how important background checks were.

A problematic person wearing a police uniform causes more damage than ten criminals.

If John's team could really perform more thorough background checks, he had no reason to refuse.

"What is the second condition?" Tom asked.

"Second, starting today, the Oxford Town Police Department and the Oxford Town Security Management Company will establish a formal partnership."

"Not a superior-subordinate relationship, but a parallel partnership—sharing information, complementary resources, joint training, and joint operations."

"Your police officers handle legal matters, while his security personnel handle physical matters. The two do not conflict; they complement each other."

Tom did not agree immediately; he was weighing the options.

Letting a private security company stand on equal footing with the Police Department was legally fine, and many small towns in the United States did this.

But psychologically, he needed time to accept it.

He was the Chief of Police, wearing a uniform and a badge, representing the state's apparatus of violence.

John was a veteran who opened a security company and took on private jobs.

The two of them sitting together, talking about sharing information and joint operations, sounded like a scene from a movie.

But he knew that Mu Xin was right.

Oxford Town was changing, becoming larger and more complex. Relying solely on twelve police officers was no longer enough.

He needed help, and John's security company was the best help available.

"Mr. Mu, I agree." Tom took a deep breath, "I accept both conditions."

"The background checks for the new police officers will be left to John, and the partnership between the Police Department and the security company will officially begin today."

Mu Xin extended his hand, "Chief Carter, the safety of Oxford Town is in your and John's hands."

Tom shook his hand, "Mr. Mu, I will not let you down."

The two men let go, picked up their forks, and began to eat the chicken bowl that was now half-cold.

"Chief Carter, one more thing." Mu Xin put down his fork, "You just said Option C was to add fifteen people, but I calculated it. Fifteen people, seven to eight people per shift, is still not enough."

"If there is a large-scale emergency, such as a hotel fire, a Water Plant explosion, or a power plant failure, requiring the evacuation of thousands of people, what can seven or eight people do?"

Tom paused, not knowing what Mu Xin meant.

"So I am giving you Option D." Mu Xin held up one finger, "Add thirty people."

"Th...thirty?" Tom thought he had misheard.

"Yes, thirty." Mu Xin's expression was calm, "The total police force will increase to forty-two, with fourteen people per shift, rotating in three shifts."

"Fixed posts: two at the Water Plant, two at the power plant, two at the hotel construction site, two at the Medical Center, two at the school, and one at the town government office, totaling eleven people."

"Patrol teams: six people per shift, covering the entire town."

"Rapid response team: four people per shift, specifically for handling emergencies."

"The rest will serve as a mobile force, ready to fill in at any time."

Tom opened his mouth to say something, but his mind went blank for a moment.

Forty-two police officers—Oxford Town had never had so many police officers in its history.

"Mr. Mu, thirty people—the annual salary plus benefits will be at least 2.4 million. Including equipment, vehicles, training, and the office building expansion, the total investment for the first year will not be less than six million."

"Six million is not a small sum."

Mu Xin picked up his cola, took a sip, and slowly put it down.

"Chief Carter, do you know why I want to invest so much money in Oxford Town?"

Tom shook his head.

"Because I believe that Oxford Town will become the best city in southwestern Ohio—not one of the best, but the best."

"The best city needs the best schools, the best hospitals, the best infrastructure, and also the best Police Department."

"Six million to buy the best Police Department in the state—I think it's worth it."

"When the hotel I'm building opens, the room rate will start at eight hundred dollars a night, so I need absolute security."

"If you govern Oxford Town well, more people will come. When more people come, my hotel will make money." Mu Xin's expression was very serious.

"Mr. Mu, I also think Option D is great." Tom's voice was a bit hoarse, "I will personally vet and train each of the thirty new recruits."

"But John must be involved in the recruitment process from start to finish." Mu Xin reminded him.

"I know." Tom nodded, "I will talk to John."

Tom finished the last bite, wiped his mouth with a paper towel, gathered the forms on the table, and put them into his pocket.

"Mr. Mu, I'll head back to the department now. I have a meeting this afternoon."

"Go ahead."

After Tom left, Mu Xin took out his phone and sent a message to John: "The Police Department is adding personnel—thirty of them. You are responsible for the background checks and coordinating with Tom."

John sent a string of ellipses and then added: "Mr. Mu, are you trying to turn Oxford Town into a military base?"

Mu Xin smiled and replied: "No, I just want everyone who comes to Oxford Town to feel that it is very safe."

John sent an "Understood" emoji and then said: "I'll go talk to Tom tomorrow."

Mu Xin put his phone in his pocket and looked out the window at the main street of Oxford Town, which was only two blocks long.

Everything was very calm, as calm as a painting.

But Mu Xin knew that beneath this painting, earth-shaking changes were taking place.

The Police Department going from twelve people to forty-two meant that Oxford Town's public safety system would undergo a complete upgrade within just a few months.

This was not just a simple addition of a few people, but a qualitative change from "small-town policing" to "urban policing."

Forty-two police officers, combined with John's security company, meant that every street and every key facility in Oxford Town would be incorporated into an all-weather, no-blind-spot security network.

The Water Plant, power plant, hotel, Medical Center, school, and town government office—all key targets would have fixed posts.

Patrol teams would cover the entire town, and the rapid response team would be on standby at all times.

Such security configuration would not be inferior to that of any mid-sized city in Ohio.