Baotou Police Deputy Chief, 30, Dies Rescuing Suicidal Person
A 30-year-old deputy police chief in Baotou, Inner Mongolia, has died while attempting to rescue a person threatening to jump from a building, an incident that has drawn widespread public mourning and tributes from officials across multiple levels of government. Chen Jiaxin (陈佳鑫), deputy chief of the Ziyou Road Police Station in Qingshan District, was killed on June 18 during a rescue operation, according to reports from The Paper.
The Incident
On the afternoon of June 18, the Ziyou Road Police Station received an emergency call reporting that an individual was threatening to jump from a building. Chen Jiaxin immediately led a team to the scene. Upon arrival, rescuers found the person emotionally distressed and physically unstable after standing for an extended period, swaying and at imminent risk of falling.
At the critical moment, Chen leaped from a window toward the platform where the individual was located to carry out the rescue. An accident occurred during the attempt, and she was killed. The suicidal person was successfully rescued through the combined efforts of the rescue team, as reported by China News Service.
A Life of Service
Chen Jiaxin was born in June 1996 in Baotou, Inner Mongolia. She began her career in public security in September 2016 and joined the Chinese Communist Party in July 2024. Holding a university degree, she served successively in the Baotou Public Security Bureau Patrol Special Police Detachment, the Qingshan Branch Criminal Investigation Brigade, the Xingfu Road Police Station, and finally the Ziyou Road Police Station, where she held the rank of deputy chief and second-level police inspector.
Farewell and Tributes
On the morning of June 22, a farewell ceremony was held at the Baotou Funeral Home. The hall was solemn, with a banner reading “Tender shoulders faced danger with great love; with loyal blood, she forged a heroic soul in police service” hanging above her portrait. Her body, draped in the flag of the Chinese Communist Party, lay surrounded by flowers.
Attendees included leaders from the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Public Security Department, the Baotou Municipal Party Committee and Government, the Qingshan District Party Committee and Government, as well as police representatives and her family. Following her death, condolences were expressed by the Ministry of Public Security, the Autonomous Region Public Security Department, and local government authorities, according to Guancha (Observer Network).
Public Response
The story has resonated deeply across China. The Guancha article received over 37,000 reads, and the Sohu article reported more than 110,000 reads. Comments across platforms express profound respect and sorrow. One reader wrote: “I’m sorry to meet you this way. Martyr, may you rest in peace.” Another commented: “Salute to hero Chen Jiaxin.”
Analysis: A Portrait of Sacrifice
Chen Jiaxin’s death highlights the significant risks faced by Chinese police officers, particularly those at grassroots police stations who respond directly to emergency calls. The phrase “人民公安为人民” (The people’s police for the people) — a core slogan of the Chinese public security system — has been widely invoked in coverage of her sacrifice.
What makes this story particularly poignant is Chen’s age and gender. At 30, she was a young woman described by colleagues and media as “vibrant, bright, gentle, and kind.” The coverage emphasizes that she was not made of steel — she was a beloved daughter and friend — but when she put on her uniform, she became fearless. As The Paper’s tribute noted: “In times of crisis, she did not retreat for a single second; at the moment of life and death, she chose selfless love.”
The multi-level official response — from the Ministry of Public Security down to the district government — underscores the significance attached to this incident by Chinese authorities. As of the latest reports, no posthumous honors have been publicly announced, though such designations may follow in the coming weeks.
What’s Next
The incident has also prompted broader reflection on rescue safety protocols for police officers responding to suicide attempts, though no critical examination has appeared in official coverage. The identity and condition of the rescued individual have not been publicly disclosed, consistent with standard privacy practices.
Chen Jiaxin’s sacrifice serves as a solemn reminder of the dangers faced by frontline officers daily. Her story, as one observer noted, is one of extraordinary courage from an ordinary person — a young woman who, in her final act, chose to put the safety of another above her own.