Chinese police help disabled boy to realise dream

A nine-year-old Chinese boy, who is battling a rare muscle disease, today realised his dream of becoming a policeman when a police force simulated a kidnapping case in a rare gesture.
Zou Junyi, diagnosed with muscular dystrophy in Xinyu City of the eastern Jiangxi Province, received the award of "courageous policeman" from Mayor Cong Wenjing after the boy, wearing a tailored police uniform, helped subdue two "kidnappers" and save three "hostages" played by volunteers.
Police arranged for wheelchair-bound Zou, the son of a migrant labour couple, to direct traffic, watch drills and visit a command centre, where he was surprised to receive a call about the kidnapping case.

He was sent with special police officers to deal with the case at the scene.
There, 23-year-old policewoman Liu Jinfeng pushed Zou in his wheelchair to approach the "kidnappers" on the pretext of delivering a bottle of water. Liu was able to kick away the dagger in a kidnapper's hand and catch him.
The other "criminal" was also caught by policemen.

Inspired by netizens, the project was jointly initiated by the publicity department of the Xinyu City Committee of the Communist Party and the city's public security bureau.
Before the simulation, more than 200 people had signed up, offering to play kidnappers and hostages for the boy. Finally, five of them were selected as actors in the performance.

Policeman Liu Yi, who played one of the kidnappers, said he and his colleague Liu Jinfeng practiced the episode of seizing the kidnappers many times during the past week.
Police informed residents and vendors at the scene where the event was arranged and told them not to panic.
Huang Wenhui, head of the public security bureau, said almost all police staff were mobilised to help with Zou's special day out. "The Chinese dream can only be realised if everybody's dream comes true," said Huang.
Muscular dystrophy is a skeletal muscle disorder leading to loss of strength, muscle wasting and disability. Zou is currently only able to move by crawling on his knees.