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A reluctant hero in the worldwide spotlight
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AN observant Hangzhou traffic policeman became a focus of attention after surveillance video of his preventing a potentially dangerous road disaster was broadcast by CNN and then went viral on social media around the world.
Li Weiqi, 40, who hails from a small village in northeastern China, was serving as an auxiliary traffic cop in Hangzhou, patrolling a big busy intersection in the city on April 21 when he happened to notice minor cracks appearing on the highway surface.
“The cracks kept extending, to a length of over 20 centimeters, and the road surface appeared yellowish,” recalled Li.
He reported the matter by walkie-talkie to his superiors, and five policemen at the scene were instructed to detour traffic to a different route. Cones were set up warning people to stay away from the area. Within minutes, a 2-meter-deep sinkhole appeared.
Experts said the sinkhole was caused by soil erosion resulting from a leaking discarded water pipe. The problem was fixed overnight.
CNN, a US-based broadcaster, uploaded video of the incident on its Facebook account, where it received about 4 million clicks and was re-posted 20,000 times. The clip also spread across China’s social media.
Around the world, Li was hailed as “China’s hero traffic cop,” but he wasn’t aware of the ballyhoo until TV cameras subsequently showed up at the Wenjiao Detachment of the Xihu District Traffic Policemen’s Brigade, where he works.
“My old phone has no Internet connection and I seldom watch TV,” he said. “I didn’t even tell my wife about the sinkhole when I came home that day because I was tired and went to bed early.”
A humble man by nature, Li said he feels a bit uncomfortable in the spotlight.
“I think it is a bit too much to call me a hero because I did only what I needed to do,” said the auxiliary traffic cop.
“The whole team deserves praise.”
But the accolades keep rolling in. Last week, Li was awarded the Public Security First Honor Medal. Also receiving the medal was Shi Ximing, the police colleague who rushed to put traffic cones at the scene. Li has also received the Good Samaritan Credential and a May First Labor Medal.
Ye Jianjiang, vice captain of Wenjiao Detachment, was also awarded for his decisive action in giving instructions to his men at the scene.
The sinkhole incident has focused attention on the work of about 15,000 Hangzhou auxiliary policemen, who carry out duties alongside police but have no law-enforcement powers.
“It’s common to see drivers swear at our auxiliary traffic policemen,” said Ye. “People sometimes don’t understand their work, which actually is very important. Those who work as auxiliary policemen must be patient, responsible and hard-working.”
Li said he had to stop one driver who insisted on ignoring the detour and wanted to drive through the warning cones. Just as the driver was heating up the argument with Li, the roadway in front of him collapsed.
"He kept thanking me for saving his life,” Li said. “I told him it’s no big deal. It’s my job.”
Li has been working as an auxiliary traffic cop for over a year. His main job is to ease traffic during rush hour. When he migrated to Hangzhou about five years ago, he first ran small eatery. When he was forced to close up shop, he became a security guard at a school.
“I always want to be a solider since boyhood,” said Li. “It is a great honor for me to be a policeman.”
Ye said Li is typically a man of few words, who always shows up on time for work and never complains about overtime.
As for the future, Li dismisses any fallout from being a net celebrity. He said he will continue working as an auxiliary policeman and hopes to buy an apartment in the city one day for his wife and daughter.
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