Late Beijing security official honored as 'Role Model of the Times'

The Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee announced on Friday the posthumous recognition of Dong Yijun, former deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau and former head of its traffic management bureau, awarding him the honorary title of "Role Model of the Times."

Dong died of a sudden illness while on duty on October 21, 2025, at the age of 58. A native of Beijing, Dong joined the Party in 1989 and began his career the same year, spending decades working in the city's public security system.

Whether serving as a frontline police officer or a senior official, Dong consistently worked on the ground and strove to resolve difficulties faced by the public. After graduating from the People's Public Security University of China in 1989, he was assigned to a police station in Beijing's Xicheng district, where he immersed himself in community work despite complex public security conditions. Over time, he became well known among local residents, many of whom he could recognize by name.

Dong consistently emphasized a people-centered approach, often saying that every matter raised by the public should be treated as a major issue. He reminded colleagues that what might seem routine to police officers could be of critical importance to residents.

While working at the Tongzhou public security sub-bureau, Dong pushed forward reforms in public security administrative services, facilitating 87 government service items at centralized service centers and introducing 110 measures to improve public convenience. He said reform efforts should be aimed at making services more accessible and earning public satisfaction.

After taking office as head of the traffic management bureau under the Beijing public security bureau, Dong pushed forward solutions to long-standing traffic bottlenecks at key locations such as Fuxingmen Bridge and Beijing Children's Hospital, following repeated on-site inspections. These areas are among the city's major traffic pressure points involving schools, hospitals, tourist attractions and commercial zones.

Dong often said that effective traffic management required sustained, detailed effort. Under his leadership, Beijing advanced comprehensive traffic governance measures, including tailored solutions for individual high-pressure locations and the rollout of intelligent, networked traffic signal control systems.

Dong was previously honored as a first-class and second-class heroic model of the national public security system and received multiple merit citations, including two first-class, one second-class, and seven third-class individual commendations.