Police Deputy Chief Dies Saving Suicidal Citizen in Baotou
A 30-year-old female deputy police chief in Baotou, Inner Mongolia, has died after falling from a building while attempting to rescue a suicidal citizen, triggering an outpouring of grief across Chinese social media and tributes from national and local authorities.
Chen Jiaxin (陈佳鑫), Deputy Chief and Second-Class Police Inspector at Ziyou Road Police Station in Qingshan District, responded to an emergency call on the afternoon of June 18 after reports emerged that a citizen was attempting suicide by jumping from a building. According to The Paper, upon arrival, officers found the individual emotionally distressed and standing on an exterior high-altitude platform, swaying after an extended period and at imminent risk of falling.
The Rescue Attempt
Before rescue air cushions could be fully deployed and after verbal persuasion failed, Chen Jiaxin jumped from a window toward the platform where the person was located in an attempt to carry out a rescue. An accident occurred during the attempt, and Chen fell to her death. The suicidal citizen was subsequently rescued by other personnel on the scene.
The China News Service reported that the Baotou Public Security Bureau’s official WeChat account, “Ping’an Baotou,” confirmed the details, noting that Chen had acted “at the critical moment of life and death” without hesitation.
A Life of Service
Chen Jiaxin was born in June 1996 and joined the public security force in September 2016 at the age of 20. She joined the Chinese Communist Party in July 2024. Over her nearly decade-long career, she served in multiple roles including the Baotou Public Security Bureau’s Patrol Special Police Detachment, the Qingshan Branch Criminal Investigation Brigade, Xingfu Road Police Station, and most recently Ziyou Road Police Station, where she rose to the position of Deputy Chief.
Farewell Ceremony
On the morning of June 22, a farewell ceremony was held at Baotou Funeral Home. According to Beijing Time, the hall was solemn, with a black-on-white banner reading “Deeply Mourning Comrade Chen Jiaxin” and elegiac couplets on either side: “Soft shoulders face danger to preserve great love; with loyal blood, serve as police to cast loyal soul” (柔肩赴险存大爱 碧血从警铸忠魂). Her body lay surrounded by flowers, covered with the red flag of the Chinese Communist Party.
The ceremony was attended by leaders from the Ministry of Public Security, the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Public Security Department, Baotou Municipal Party Committee and Government, Qingshan District officials, as well as police and auxiliary police representatives, Chen Jiaxin’s relatives, and friends.
National Mourning
After Chen’s death in the line of duty, condolences were expressed by the Ministry of Public Security, the Autonomous Region Public Security Department, and municipal and district leaders through various forms. The story rapidly spread across Chinese social media platforms, with netizens expressing admiration for her bravery and grief over her loss.
A tribute from Beijing Time captured the public sentiment: “Chen Jiaxin was not made of steel. She was her family’s牵挂, a lively, bright, gentle, and kind young woman. But when she put on the blue police uniform, she became fearless, walking toward danger, walking toward death.”
Broader Context
Chen Jiaxin’s death highlights the risks faced by frontline law enforcement officers in China. According to Ministry of Public Security data cited in research, 210 police officers and 142 auxiliary police officers died in the line of duty in 2025 alone. Her sacrifice adds to this toll and has renewed public discussion about the dangers inherent in police rescue operations.
What’s Next
Questions remain about whether Chen Jiaxin will receive a posthumous honor or title, such as “Model Police Officer,” a common recognition for officers who die in the line of duty in China. The incident has also prompted discussion about safety protocols for high-altitude rescues and what measures could be taken to better protect officers responding to such emergencies.
For now, the nation mourns a young officer who, as the elegiac couplet at her funeral proclaimed, used “the most beautiful years of her 30-year-old life to诠释 the solemn oath of ‘Public security for the people.’”