Thousands of uniformed police officers began gathering Saturday morning for the funeral of one of the two New York City officers who was shot and killed last weekend.
Vice President Joe Biden and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio were expected to deliver remarks at the funeral for officer Rafael Ramos, which was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.
While most mourners remained somber - thousands of officers lined the road to Christ Tabernacle Church, in the Glendale neighborhood of Queens - one man held a sign reading, "God Bless the NYPD, Dump DeBlasio." The shooting came amid heightened tensions between the police and the mayor over what some police saw as a lack of support for the force.
Law enforcement officials also had increased security around the church after a number of threats were made against the New York City Police Department since the shooting.
On Friday, thousands of mourners attended an eight hour wake for Ramos, 40, at the church, where friends and family said he was a longstanding and deeply committed member.
"This family's destroyed," said Juan Rodriguez, a spokesman for the Ramos family.
Crowds of uniformed police officers greeted the hearse and a NYPD flag was draped over Ramos' casket as it was carried inside.
"[He was] a guy who dedicated his life to helping others, studying to be a pastor before becoming a police officer. He worked for school safety, you know, protecting kids in school," NYPD Capt. Sergio Centa told ABC News station WABC.
JetBlue flew in 670 law enforcement officers from across the country after offering free transportation for those wishing to attend the funeral.
"If something happens to one, it happens to all of us and that's why we're here," said Los Angeles police detective Jim McSorley.
John Minchillo/AP Photo
PHOTO: Mourners stand at a barricade near Christ Tabernacle Church
Ramos was killed on Dec. 20, along with fellow officer Wenjian Liu, 32, as they sat in their patrol car on a Brooklyn street.
The shooter, Ismaaiyl Brinsley, later killed himself.
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