The casket containing the body of slain New York City Police Officer Rafael Ramos, one of two officers shot and killed while sitting in their patrol car in an ambush last weekend, arrived at the funeral home where his wake was held this afternoon.
Crowds of uniformed police officers greeted the hearse and a NYPD flag was draped over Ramos' casket as it was carried into Christ Tabernacle Church, in the Glendale neighborhood of Queens, where friends and family said he was a longstanding and deeply committed member.
Scores of mourners, including police officers, lined up outside the building for hours, slowly streaming inside to say goodbye to Ramos.
His funeral is scheduled for Saturday, with Vice President Joe Biden has said he will attend.
JetBlue confirmed that they have flown in 670 law enforcement officers from around the country after offering free transportation for those wishing to attend Ramos' funeral.
Ramos was killed on Dec. 20, along with fellow officer Wenjian Liu, as they sat in their patrol car on a Brooklyn street.
The shooter, Ismaaiyl Brinsley, later killed himself.
The relatives of the other fallen officer, Wenjian Liu, appeared at a news conference with former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and other supporters of Tunnel to Towers, a charity originally established in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, who has offered to pay the slain officers' mortgages.
"We remember the spirit of September 12 and that's what we're asking for today," the former mayor, who has donated $20,000 of his own money towards the mortgage cause, said at today's news conference.
NYPD
PHOTO: New York Police Department officers Rafael Ramos, left, and Wenjian Liu were killed, Dec. 20, 2014, as they sat in their car in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn.
Liu's wife, Pei Xia Chen, was overcome with emotion, and though no members of his family spoke at the event, they issued a statement thanking Giuliani and Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who have helped spearhead the effort.
Unrest has followed the shooting, with six people charged with threatening NYPD officers. There have been at least 40 separate threats against New York City police since Saturday’s shooting, the NYPD said Wednesday.
Half of those threats have been deemed not credible. The rest are still under investigation.
“All threats against members of the NYPD are taken seriously and are investigated immediately to determine the credibility and origin of the information,” the department said in a statement.
Extra guards have been posted at precincts when necessary and Mayor Bill de Blasio has implored the public to report any threats they may see online. The NYPD counts about 35,000 uniformed officers, with 22,000 patrolmen.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Source: Top Stories - Google News - http://ift.tt/1xVzx9Q
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