Officer's sacrifice recognized on anniversary of death

On April 15, 2024, officer Wu Lin of the Jinchang Police Station in Dingxiang county, Shanxi province, approached a suspicious man for a routine identity check.

Without warning, the man lunged at him with a knife. Despite being stabbed twice, Wu fought back alongside his fellow officers, subduing the suspect before collapsing. He was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to critical stab wounds — one pierced his carotid artery, the other punctured his lung.

He was only 27.

The perpetrator was identified as a fugitive wanted for causing death through intentional harm. He was sentenced to death by the court in both his first and second trials.

Before the one-year anniversary of Wu's sacrifice, a tribute was held at North University of China in Taiyuan, capital of Shanxi. The event, attended by over 500 faculty members and students, honored Wu's heroic deeds and resonated deeply with all present.

"From the moment they put on their police uniforms, public security heroes like officer Wu Lin chose loyalty, dedication and the readiness to sacrifice everything for the Party and the people," Wu Lin's former comrade, officer Zhao Xin from the Dingxiang County Public Security Bureau, told participants at the event on April 2, one day before Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day.

Sun Chi, a student at the university, reflected on his sacrifice: "We live and study in peace because officers like Wu Lin stand guard. His story must never be forgotten."

Professor Zhang Chunxiu of the university commented after attending the event, "When theory meets real heroes, faith takes root in young hearts."

Liu Yan, Wu's colleague from the Jinchang Police Station, shared Wu's stories with China Daily. "At the station, he was our beloved 'sunshine', his bright personality uplifting everyone around him. To the community, he was a trustworthy officer, always striving to communicate and protect their legitimate rights," she said.

Born into a military family, Wu grew up surrounded by stories of sacrifice. His grandfather was a veteran of China's War of Liberation (1946-49), and his mother, uncles and brother-in-law had all served. Inspired by their sense of duty, he enrolled in police college.

In his five years as an officer, Wu handled over 200 criminal and administrative cases, resolved 300 disputes and assisted citizens in more than 500 incidents, Liu said.

After his death, Wu was posthumously honored as a National Second-Class Heroic Model by the Ministry of Public Security and named a martyr by the Shanxi government.

The police station founded the "Wu Lin Police Vanguard Unit" in August last year. Officers of the unit will continue his mission, tackling the toughest cases with the same courage he displayed.

His older sister, Wu Xia, inherited his badge — 072682 — and became a police officer in July last year.

"This badge is our shared bond," she said. "Once, we were siblings by blood. Now, we are comrades in arms. I will wear this badge and walk the path he could not finish — protecting the people, just as he did."