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Cao Zhigang, a police officer from the Beijing Public Security Bureau, has earned a reputation as a tough kidnapping buster after cracking hundreds of kidnapping crimes.
Cao Zhigang has dealt with numerous kidnapping cases and has managed to rescue the hostages every time, with a combination of audacity, skill and a deep sense of responsibility for public security.
In 2008, local police found a man surnamed Wu in Beijing's Fangshan district who they suspected of illegal possession of 27 kg of explosives, posing a grave danger to the public. Cao's team rushed to Wu's residence at once.
Though they questioned the man about the explosives, the man refused to give any details. Cao calmed down Wu with patient persuasion and finally Wu told the police where the explosives were hidden.
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| Cao Zhigang (Center) and his SWAT team [Photo/ bjby.bjwmb.gov.cn] |
Cao Zhigang has perpetually sacrificed his personal time to investigate cases. On June 19, 2010, Cao was tasked with catching the main suspect of one of the most wanted criminal gangs in China. The man was in Beijing but was good at avoiding police surveillance. Cao and his team didn't have a weekend or holiday off for nearly three months in their efforts to trace the man and finally catch him.
Cao Zhigang and his SWAT team have rescued more than 170 hostages, ranging from a 5-month-old baby to well-known Chinese actor. Jackie Chan's film Police Story 2013 was partially based on Zhigang.
From 2008 to 2010, Cao Zhigang and his team arrested more than 320 suspects in over 1,480 cases involving kidnaping, guns and explosives, simultaneously taking down 23 criminal gangs. In the process they rescued 32 hostages and safeguarded the security of the city. In his colleagues' eyes, he is a workaholic.
Cao's expertise is widely recognized among police in the city. He was invited to public security sub-bureaus in Haidian and Shijingshan districts to give lectures on how to track criminals based on his own experience.
In Cao's opinion, improving public awareness of personal safety is also an important part of his responsibility. He has gone to campuses and given lessons on personal safety to students, teaching them basic self-defense tactics.
After the terrorist attack at Tian'anmen on October 28, 2013, the Beijing Public Security Bureau set up an anti-terrorism squad. Cao Zhigang was entrusted with running the team based on his 17 years of experience in combating crimes.
In this new position, Cao is even busier than before. "The days on calendar used to be just dates. Now what I pay attention to are only the dates for festivals and events, such as the Chinese New Year, Spring Festival and the national two sessions, as well as some important religious festivals," Cao said.
He continued to explain that, terrorists are likely to create disturbances on such busy occasions. Ironically when others are enjoying their holiday, Cao and his team are at their busiest, watching out for problems and protecting the public.
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Cao gives a lecture on how to track criminals for colleagues in Beijing. [Photo/ bjby.bjwmb.gov.cn] |
