Police officer Liu An never reached the heights he dreamed of when he joined the police force, but instead became a man who left his mark through kindness and diligence.

Liu worked in Puhuangyu community in Beijing's Fengtai district for 34 years, helping the residents feel warm and safe through his actions.

On March 7, the 55-year-old had just finished the night shift and was going through tasks to be done the next day when he suffered a heart attack and collapsed. He was rushed to the hospital but could not be revived, according to the district public security bureau.

Liu became a police officer in 1987 and was appointed to work in Puhuangyu community even though he wanted to solve major crimes and arrest criminals, the bureau said.

In the beginning, he was not keen on working as a community police officer dealing with "trivial matters".

However, one day a senior officer took him to visit the residents and check on the community. Liu found that everyone he met greeted and chatted with him warmly.

He felt accepted and trusted by the residents and decided to do his best to serve the community, the bureau said.

Liu discovered a major problem was that the community compound was easily accessible through several points, making the residents susceptible to burglaries.

He worked with the management of the community and negotiated with several security companies to install fences and safety doors. The community came under surveillance by management, and the burglary cases virtually disappeared.

Wei Jiandong, deputy head of Puhuangyu police station, began working with Liu in 2000. He said Liu was friendly to everyone and listened to their needs and problems.

As a newcomer, Wei said he learned a lot from Liu, including not to shout at residents in an impatient manner when dealing with their problems.

"He taught me how to communicate with the residents and he said police officers must be patient and cautious when dealing with affairs related to the public," Wei said. "Liu said, 'Think about their demands and use their way of thinking to solve problems.' His words still guide my work."

About 70 percent of the residents in the community are older than 60, and Liu often bought food for them or helped them take medicine and resolve day-to-day problems and family disputes.