Luo Ruiqing
In October 1975, Tao returned to work, first at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, then as secretary to General Luo Ruiqing. In July 1983 Tao was named Vice-Minister of Public Security. Tao was the Minister of Public Security from 1990 to 1998. During his tenure he was known for pioneering the "110" hotline for reporting crimes to the police in large cities. He also streamlined the police ranking system. He left active politics in 1998 and began sitting on the National People's Congress Internal and Judicial Affairs Committee. He retired in June 2009.