Editor's note: Grassroots police officers play a fundamental role in keeping China safe, and over the years many have lost their lives in the line of duty. Today, we shine a light on some of those brave officers to commemorate their selflessness and sacrifice while performing their duties.

For 30 years, Qiu Jianjun served as a dedicated police officer serving his community in Wuhan. On June 1 last year, the 50-year-old's life was cut short in an altercation with a suspect wielding a knife on a routine follow-up to a community tip-off.

Qiu held off using his firearm during the conflict in order to avoid causing any collateral damage.

The actions of the then deputy head of Hanxing Police Station in Wuhan, Hubei province, protected others at the scene, but cost him his life.

In the early hours of that day, the police station received a call that an unidentified person was loitering with a knife next to a hotel. Qiu, who was on duty, led a team to investigate, determining the identity of the suspect, as well as where he lived.

The police officers went to the suspect's home and found the man, surnamed Feng, had locked himself in his bedroom.

While Qiu was talking to Feng's mother, Feng dashed out of the bedroom wielding a sword and slashing at a fellow officer.

During the standoff, Qiu asked his colleagues to back down. Feng began attacking Qiu with two daggers, but Qiu made the decision not to use his firearm to protect the safety of others.

"He was... facing a small and enclosed space with hard walls. The environment could cause ricochets easily," said Hu Bin, Qiu's colleague. "The ricochets, if they happened, would have highly likely hurt the suspect's mother."

The suspect stabbed Qiu multiple times and tried to escape. Qiu continued to chase him downstairs and onto the street, before collapsing.

Feng was soon captured by the police, but Qiu died despite rescue efforts.

The tragedy put an end to a law enforcement career replete with good deeds and duty.

In 1997, when he was only 23, Qiu investigated a major robbery and homicide case.

Due to lacking technology, Qiu worked intensively for nearly two months, investigating each of the 107 associates of the deceased, and found that the homicide victim's nephew was a major suspect.

He then conducted a more than 10-day stakeout with his colleagues before capturing the suspect and an accomplice.

In 2002, a woman was choked to death in a grocery store in Wuhan, but police weren't able to identify the suspect according to the incomplete traces left at the scene.

Some 20 years later, the police were able to link these incomplete traces to someone who had been charged with theft. Qiu and his colleagues traveled to Xiangyang, Hubei province, four times and to Chongqing twice to conduct an investigation and collect evidence, preparing a case file of more than 1,000 pages.

Qiu took the lead in interrogating the suspect, who finally confessed.

In 2012, Qiu obtained clues about an illicit drug deal, and discovered a suspicious man. During the capture operation, Qiu was stabbed in the thigh, his pants soaking with blood.

He persevered and continued to fight together with his colleagues to take down the man, and even comforted anxious colleagues while he was being taken to hospital.

During his 30 years in the police force, Qiu had participated in the cracking of more than 1,800 criminal cases and the capture of more than 2,300 suspects.

In July, Wuhan Public Security Bureau held a ceremony to commemorate and retire Qiu's badge number.

"No one was born to be fearless. Qiu made a choice with his life, and used his loyalty and blood to demonstrate the solemn vow that the people's police always work for the people," Hu said.

wangqingyun@chinadaily.com.cn