Born in 1995, Shen Yang is a police officer with the border management detachment in Dehong, located in Southwest China's Yunnan province.
Over the past seven years, he has turned his teenage dream of pursuing "a career with a sense of justice "into reality.
Shen's aspiration to join law enforcement took shape during his college years when he was inspired by stories of the detachment's dedication to safeguarding the nation's border areas.
His understanding of the profession deepened over time, and in 2018, he joined the team as a community officer at the police station in Jiele village, Dehong.
At the frontier, where law enforcement is directly tied to people's daily struggles, Shen quickly immersed himself in the challenges of grassroots policing.
It was here that he faced some of the most intense situations in his career.
One of Shen's most memorable experiences occurred in January 2023, when he uncovered a wage dispute involving 546 migrant workers who were owed a total of 21 million yuan ($2.89 million) by a construction company just before the Spring Festival.
Shen quickly collaborated with local authorities and social security departments to resolve the issue, balancing empathy with legal rigor to ensure the workers received their payment within 15 days. Thanks to his dedicated efforts, the workers were able to reunite with their families for the holiday.
"We must always consider the perspective of the people," he said.
For Shen, his job is not just about enforcing the law; it is also about understanding the human side of policing and ensuring that justice is served with compassion.
One of the most challenging encounters was with a woman suffering from bipolar disorder. Exhibiting extreme paranoia, she feared harm from those around her and, despite Shen's repeated attempts to conduct home visits, remained uncooperative. Shen's lack of prior experience with mental health issues made the situation even more difficult.
But Shen didn't back down. Through teamwork with medical organizations and careful intervention, he was able to manage the situation effectively and develop protocols for handling similar cases in the future.
"This experience not only enhanced our expertise in caring for individuals with mental health issues but also reinforced the importance of collaborative problem-solving in community policing," Shen said.
