“Excellent.”
He slid the impoundment summary across the table.
“Then let's discuss the contract your office oversees.”
Her smile faded.
Only for an instant.
But he noticed.
She opened the document.
The commissioner continued.
“I understand you've been responsible for coordinating the towing contract renewal.”
“Yes.”
“And the associated performance reviews?”
“My division oversees those.”
“Good.”
He leaned forward.
“Who verifies the invoices against the underlying impoundment records?”
She looked toward the chief.
Then back at the commissioner.
“That involves finance and operations staff.”
“Which specific offices?”
She supplied the names of the relevant divisions.
The commissioner wrote them down.
Then asked about the complaint trends.
The deputy chief answered confidently.
She described increased enforcement.
Changing traffic patterns.
Redevelopment activity.
And the need to remove vehicles from areas experiencing congestion and public safety complaints.
Some of those explanations were plausible.
The commissioner acknowledged that.
Then he asked why certain impoundment narratives contained identical unusual phrasing.
She frowned.
“I haven't reviewed those individual reports.”
“Would you like to?”
She stared.
He opened another folder.
Inside were excerpts from six incident reports.
The same sentence appeared in each.
Vehicle presented an immediate obstruction and created an elevated public safety concern.
The commissioner pointed toward the dates.
“Different officers. Different streets. Different circumstances.”
He looked up.
“Same wording.”
The deputy chief gave a dismissive smile.
“Officers often use standardized language.”
“Of course.”
He paused.
“But standardized language should accurately describe the event.”
She nodded.
“Certainly.”
He turned another page.
“In one incident, the vehicle was parked in a marked legal space, according to the photographs supplied by the owner.”
The deputy chief looked toward the document.
He continued.
“In another, the driver was inside the vehicle when the tow request was initiated.”
She shifted.
The commissioner looked directly at her.
“I'm not saying those tows were unlawful without reviewing the complete circumstances.”
She nodded quickly.
“Exactly.”
He continued.
“I'm saying the records require examination.”
The room became quiet.
Then he asked a question she hadn't anticipated.
“Did you order the sergeant to work the entrance this morning?”
The deputy chief froze.
The chief turned toward her.
She recovered quickly.
“I believe his unit was assigned to assist with headquarters security.”
The commissioner studied her.
“By whom?”
She smiled faintly.
“I'd need to check.”
He nodded.
“Please do.”
Then he looked toward the chief.
“I'd like the staffing orders and the related departmental communications preserved.”
The deputy chief's smile disappeared.