Tensions between NYC mayor, police on display at slain officer’s funeral

Thousands of police officers from across the nation packed a church and spilled onto streets Saturday to honor Officer Rafael Ramos. Although mourners inside the church applauded politely as Mayor Bill de Blasio spoke, tensions were evident when officers turned away from giant screens showing de Blasio, who has been harshly criticized by New York Police Department union officials as a contributor to a climate of mistrust that contributed to the killings of Ramos and his partner, Wenjian Liu. Soon after taking office this year, de Blasio dropped the city’s opposition to a judge’s finding that the police department discriminated against minorities with its anti-crime stop-and-frisk tactics. But since last week’s shootings, de Blasio has stood firmly by police, calling on demonstrators to temporarily halt protests and praising the department after it arrested several men charged with threatening police.

The Ramos and Liu families, our police department and our city are dealing with an unconscionable tragedy. Our sole focus is unifying this city and honoring the lives of our two police officers.

a statement from New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s spokesperson

Ramos, a 40-year-old married father of two, was studying to become a pastor and kept Bible study books in his locker, his commanding officer said. Police Commissioner William Bratton said Ramos had been made honorary chaplain of the police precinct where he had worked. Ramos and Liu were the first officers to die in the line of duty in New York since 2011. Funeral plans for Liu haven’t yet been announced. They have both been posthumously promoted to first-grade detective. Gov. Andrew Cuomo praised the sea of blue mourners for their professionalism at recent rallies over police conduct when protesters insulted them, and Vice President Joe Biden spoke passionately about the effects of the officers’ deaths.

When an assassin’s bullet targeted two officers, it targeted this city and it touched the soul of an entire nation.

Vice President Joe Biden

Americas