Near the end of the workday, he asked Reigns and Voss to attend a documented administrative meeting. He invited a personnel representative and made clear that each officer could consult with counsel or an appropriate representative before answering questions. Both declined to make formal statements that evening, but agreed to hear the status of the review. The distinction mattered: they were entitled not to incriminate themselves, and Marcus was not going to turn that right into proof of wrongdoing.
The small conference room had no windows to the outside, only a glass panel overlooking the hall. Reigns and Voss entered together, both trying to appear unconcerned. Marcus remained at the head of the table with a summary folder containing only information already cleared for the administrative process. Kim sat beside him, documenting who was present and what materials were shown.
"Forty-three impounds over eighteen months," Marcus began. "Most of the disputed cases were routed to Westbridge Towing Services. Many of the records contain little independent support for the alleged safety problems, and the authorizations bear Sergeant Voss's approval." He placed a few representative forms on the table. "Those decisions are now under external review."
Voss leaned back. "We use the company because they're reliable. They answer calls in weather other operators won't go out in." He sounded almost bored. "If the city doesn't like the contract, the city can rebid it. That's not corruption."
"A preferred vendor isn't necessarily corruption," Marcus agreed. He drew another page from the folder, a public vendor disclosure listing Voss Security Consulting. "But a supervisor's financial relationship with a company that receives police-directed business raises questions. Especially when the supervisor also decides which complaints against the towing officers get dismissed."
Voss's fingers stopped moving on the tabletop. "My wife owns a business," he said. "There's nothing illegal about that." Marcus nodded.
"Then the independent auditors will be able to establish what services were provided, who approved the work, and whether any undisclosed conflict influenced enforcement decisions." He turned toward Reigns. "You also have the opportunity to provide any information relevant to these stops through your representative."
Reigns gave a hard laugh. "Drivers say whatever gets them out of paying their tickets. The same people who complain about towing always swear they never did anything wrong."
Marcus did not argue over the generalization. He moved a transcript across the table, stopping before it reached the officer. "The incident involving me is different in one important respect. Your statements were recorded."
Reigns's eyes went to the transcript. "You were recording me?" The words came out as an accusation. Marcus answered that the device had been running as he took personal notes during his commute and that the recording had been preserved under the department's evidence procedures. The original was in Internal Affairs custody, where technical examination would determine its integrity.