"We did not report the case to the higher authorities because we feared it would harm the image and reputation of the police."

Wei Shuping, former police chief of Linzhou, Henan province, explains to the media why the local public security bureau tried to cover up a criminal case involving a police officer on July 18. Guo Zengxi, 50, allegedly grabbed a baby from her parents near a restaurant and threw her to the ground. The baby suffered serious head injuries and is still in hospital. The case was exposed on the Internet one month later. Wei has been suspended from office because of the cover-up.