Men must be taller than 1.73 meters (about 5’7”) and women not shorter than 1.65 meters (about 5’3”). At the initial examination, one young woman burst into tears after being eliminated for being just one centimeter short (less than one-half inch) of the required height.

Almost all the examinees had at least a junior college level education, and whiz kid graduates of famous universities were not lacking in the group. And why are these young people so enthusiastic about becoming a police officer?

According to the chief examiner, many youths are influenced by their parents who view the position of police officer rather a suitable and stable profession with its military-type organization. So parents feel reassured if their children join the police force.

However, many youth really are just attracted to this profession. Zhang Yanling, a 21-year-old woman, said she had admired police work since her childhood, but had to go to a normal university rather than to a police officer academy after she fell short on the academy entrance examination.

“This public recruitment gives me a chance to realize my dream, so I must grasp the chance,” she said.

Cheng Ping, a teacher of the Beijing People’s Police Officer Institute in charge of the examination, pointed out that police officers are indeed beautiful and impressive in the police uniform, but they are faced with danger at any time, even sometimes they have to dedicate their blood and lives. “Those wanting to be a police officer should be mentally prepared. Nevertheless, police officer is a holy profession. When you catch a criminal and make contributions to the people, the professional pride in your mind is incomparable with other professions.”

(光明日报 [Guangming Daily], translated by Zhang Tingting for china.org.cn, April 17, 2002)