A police officer has been sacked for applying for naming his subordinate, who drank himself to death at a banquet in southern China, a "martyr," the local public security authority said Tuesday.

Xie Feiyong, head of a traffic police squadron of Baoan District in Shenzhen of Guangdong Province, was suspended of his post on Monday after he applied on behalf of the squadron for bestowing the honor of "martyr" to his subordinate Chen Lusheng, who died of heavy drinking at a banquet, the Shenzhen Municipal Public Security Bureau said in a press release.

Xie took Chen and some other police officers with him to a banquet organized by the Xixiang residential community on Oct. 29.

Chen, who was off duty, drank "a lot" and vomited. He was then led to sofa for a rest but was later found breathless. Chen died in hospital after emergency treatments, the municipal traffic police bureau said.

The hospital said Chen died of vomit-induced suffocation.

Chen's family pressed the police department for compensation, saying that Chen had died in a work-related banquet. Xie and some other leaders of the squadron later jointly applied to the district brigade for giving Chen the honor of "martyr" so that more government compensation could be given to the family.

However, the brigade turned down the request after a careful study of the case, saying Chen was not qualified for the honor.

An application for martyr must undergo further examinations by other senior authorities such as the municipal public security bureau and the municipal bureau of civil affairs.