Chapter 884: Requesting Municipal Bureau Support

For three days, Wang Zhaokai has conducted a comprehensive survey of Beihong Village and several nearby villages.

On one hand, he investigated all the single youths who were about the same age as Hu Huihui at the time. On the other hand, Wang Zhaokai focused on investigating men in the village who were divorced and living alone or had always been single.

However, unfortunately, through fingerprint collection and comparison, no clues of the suspect were found.

Moreover, since the incident happened 10 years ago, many people no longer live in Beihong Village, as many have gone to work elsewhere.

Some people’s information hasn’t been collected yet, and some have not been contacted at all.

Based on the current situation, Wang Zhaokai’s suggestion is to collect fingerprint information of all personnel in Beihong Village and the nearby villages and then compare it.

"I personally believe that the suspect is most likely in Beihong Village or the nearby villages."

After proposing this suggestion, Wang Zhaokai emphasized another situation.

"Through the investigation in the past two days, I found that many households in Beihong Village have the type of shovel we found at the scene."

Wang Zhaokai continued: "I inquired about a few situations, and this type of shovel is mainly used for digging pits for tree planting."

"About a kilometer behind Beihong Village, in the North Mountain, originally a barren hill, villagers from Beihong Village and nearby villages have been planting trees on it for the past two or three decades, so North Mountain has gradually become lush."

Wang Zhaokai analyzed further: "Although the earlier directions we established, such as taxi drivers and construction team workers, also had potential for committing the crime, based on the digging tools found at the scene, I personally think the villagers within Beihong Village have the highest probability."

"Therefore, conduct fingerprint information collection on all villagers of Beihong Village and the surrounding villages, and then proceed with the comparison."

Lu Chuan, sitting in the chief position, pondered carefully over Wang Zhaokai’s suggestion.

The idea of fingerprint collection for all was something Lu Chuan had considered early on.

However, from the judicial resource allocation perspective, conducting large-scale fingerprint collection and then comparison is definitely not the most economically optimal solution.

As long as some progress can be made from other directions or clues, collecting fingerprints from everyone is always the last resort.

"What are everybody’s thoughts?"

Lu Chuan thought for a moment and looked at the others.

"The investigation of taxi drivers from my side will continue, but I personally think the likelihood is still relatively small. I agree with the idea of collecting fingerprints from everyone."

Chen Jiang was the first to express his opinion.

"I agree too."

This was Sun Biao.

"Good!"

Seeing that everyone was of the same opinion, Lu Chuan made a decision.

"I’ll report to the branch office first!"

Conducting fingerprint collection for everyone within an administrative region is not something that the Criminal Investigation Team can decide on its own.

It needs to be reported to the High-tech Zone Branch, which will further report to the City Bureau before a decision can be finalized.

Of course, according to the administrative division of Hongcun, it also belongs to the High-tech Zone, so the related work is relatively easier to carry out.

Fingerprint collection within the same administrative region doesn’t require additional police support from outside.

It can be conducted using police officers from local police stations mobilized by the High-tech Zone Branch.

Of course, collecting fingerprints is just the first step; the remaining tasks require matching and comparison.

There are relatively few forensic criminal investigators capable of fingerprint comparison and matching in the High-tech Zone, including Lu Chuan, totaling only three.

So in this regard, support from the City Bureau is required, and other relevant basic criminal investigators from different branches could be temporarily seconded.

Half an hour later, Lu Chuan appeared in the office of the branch office Director Chen Weiguo.

"Are you confident?"

After listening to Lu Chuan’s investigation analysis, Chen Weiguo inquired.

Lu Chuan shook his head: "Confidence is not something I can claim to a large extent, but from the current investigation results, conducting fingerprint information collection for everyone in Beihong Village and nearby villages can help advance the case investigation."

Chen Weiguo nodded.

He also came from a criminal investigation background and knows there’s never a 100% certainty in solving a case.

"Alright, I’ll have the Political Commissar lead, and initially extract all the available police force from each police station in the High-tech Zone to prepare for the fingerprint information collection of all personnel."

Chen Weiguo picked up the materials: "You come with me, we’ll give a report to Director Song in person. I think there won’t be much of a problem."

While Chen Weiguo wasn’t directly involved in solving the case, it’s more appropriate for Lu Chuan to report given his familiarity with the situation.

Also, with Lu Chuan and his connections, incidents that would normally not get approved can get the green light when he’s involved.

Sure enough, they didn’t encounter any resistance with Song Jiangguo. The two briefed on the situation, and Song Jiangguo approved the fingerprint information collection for everyone.

For the Haizhou City Public Security Bureau, while this kind of situation isn’t something that happens too frequently, it isn’t rare either.

"Director Song, there’s also something else. I’d like to see if the technical criminal investigators who do fingerprint matching at various branches have any time, and if they can come and help at the High-tech Zone Branch over the next few days."

Lu Chuan took the opportunity to make a request for assistance.

"Oh? Do you still need to ask for my permission for this?"

Song Jiangguo smiled: "Though you’re the captain of the High-tech Zone Criminal Investigation Team now, you also still serve as the Director of the Crime Scene Investigation Office of the Criminal Investigation Team."

"With one word from you, which branch would dare not send people?"

Song Jiangguo wasn’t joking; with Lu Chuan’s technical abilities, he is regarded as the top expert in the forensic field in Haizhou City.

When other branches face challenges in handling fingerprints, footprints, blood traces, and other such aspects, they still require Lu Chuan’s help.

So, if Lu Chuan made a request, there wouldn’t be a branch unwilling to send people; rather, they would compete to send personnel over.

"Director Song, how can my words compare to when you issue a notice."

Lu Chuan, of course, knows the weight his words carry, but to bypass procedures and directly reach out to other branches for personnel would be against the rules.

If Zhu Chuan directly requested people from the branches, it would be akin to bypassing the City Bureau, which would be seen as disrespectful to the City Bureau, and Lu Chuan would never do something like that.

"You’re full of clever ideas, fine, I’ll issue the notification this afternoon, okay?"

"Haha, thank you, Director Song, then we’ll get busy."

Leaving the City Bureau, Chen Weiguo sighed: "It really makes a difference when you’re in Director Song’s presence, for me to ask for personnel..."

"It’s the same when you ask."

The same, my foot!

Chen Weiguo had tried asking before.

Forget it, no point in saying more.

Comparing oneself to others is a recipe for misery, so as long as Lu Chuan remains at the High-tech Zone Branch, one should relish this period.

Perhaps after a year, when the term ends, and Lu Chuan is promoted, things may change.

Everyone is well aware that Lu Chuan can’t stay in his position as the Criminal Investigation Team’s head indefinitely. With his temporary position nearing the end, one cannot predict where he might go.

Of course, it must still be in frontline case-solving, or else Lu Chuan’s true talents would be wasted.