Final answer:
The irony in the statement is that the audience knows the Chief of Police is the criminal while the police force is unaware. This creates suspense and tension in the story.
Step-by-step explanation:
The irony of the statement is that the audience knows that the criminal is actually the Chief of Police, while the police force is unaware and continues to search for suspects. This creates a sense of dramatic irony because the audience has information that the characters in the story do not.
For example, in the scenario given, the audience may know that the Chief of Police is the criminal because they have seen the Chief participating in illegal activities, while the police force is still trying to gather evidence and find the suspects.
This creates tension and suspense in the story, as the audience wonders if and when the police force will discover the truth and how it will impact the investigation.