In the eyes of his colleagues, Ye Yongliang was born to be a policeman. As a tactical officer, he was always the first to charge forward during dangerous tasks.

Ye, who served in the special patrol police brigade of Ruian city's public security bureau in Zhejiang province, suffered a sudden cardiac arrest while on duty on Aug 10, and passed away the same day despite efforts to save his life. He was 35.

A native of Ruian, Ye joined the Communist Party of China in November 2008 and the police force in July 2010.

The 12-year veteran held various positions in a community police station and in the brigade. He earned numerous personal commendations and awards, including twice receiving third-class merit for outstanding performance.

In December 2022, the Ministry of Public Security posthumously named him "Second-Class Hero Model of the National Public Security System".

Ye graduated from the School of Physical Education at Ningbo University in Ningbo, Zhejiang, where he also excelled as a long-distance runner.

A popular figure in the police force, he ranked first in nearly all the brigade's training exercises.

As an instructor, Ye taught his teammates police skills and investigative techniques. Yu Kaixuan, a member of the brigade, remembered how Ye paid particular attention to new police officers.

"Whenever he noticed that new recruits were becoming anxious during high-intensity training or 24-hour standby duty, he would take them aside and encourage them not to be afraid, motivating them to do their best," Yu said.

Tactical police officers are on the front lines during riots or when engaging with terrorism suspects, working to maintain stability while dealing with emergencies.

Once in June 2021, an old mortar shell was found at the construction site of an electroplating park in Ruian. The shell was rusty and had the potential to detonate at any time.

Ye took the initiative to deal with the matter. After ensuring that people had safely evacuated the area, he put on an explosion-proof suit and successfully disposed of the shell.

The park contained dangerous chemicals such as potassium cyanide, and there were many residents in the area.

If the shell had exploded, the consequences would have been unimaginable, said Shao Xiaobo, a fellow instructor.

Shao said that Ye was a trustworthy teammate and showed no fear, no matter how dangerous the work was, always leading colleagues as he charged into a situation.

Shao recalled an incident one evening in May last year when a knife-wielding criminal was spotted in a local community. Ye and his colleagues, who were patrolling nearby, rushed to the scene and managed to trap the suspect in a building that was under construction. While searching the premises, they discovered the suspect hiding in a water tank on the roof. "Ye climbed onto the water tank and in one swift move, disarmed the suspect and captured him," Shao said.

Apart from being a respected police officer, Ye was also a devoted family man. He married in 2015, and the couple had a daughter two years later. He spent almost all of his spare time with the girl.

Ye's wife remembers him as a kind, honest and responsible person who showed his love for her in small but meaningful ways. Despite not being particularly romantic, he made her feel safe and cared for.

At his funeral, his 5-year-old daughter said goodbye, and referred to her father as the brightest star in the sky.