The funeral service for slain NYPD officer Rafael Ramos took place at the Christ Tabernacle Church in Queens on Saturday. Hundreds of police officers gathered to say farewell to their colleague, who along with his partner, Wenjian Liu, was murdered in Brooklyn last Saturday when Ismaaiyl Brinsley opened fire while the officers sat in their cruiser. Brinsley later killed himself on a subway platform.
Among those that spoke at the funeral were vice president Joe Biden, New York governor Andrew Cuomo, and police commissioner Bill Bratton.
"I’m sure I speak for the whole nation when I say our hearts speak for you” Biden said. “This is probably the finest police department in the world.”
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"When an assassin’s bullet targeted two officers, it targeted this city and it touched the soul of an entire nation," the vice president added.
The funeral was not without controversy, as more of the anti-mayor sentiment within the NYPD permeated the day's events. After the shooting, police officers turned their backs on New York City mayor Bill De Blasio as he walked through Woodhull Hospital, while police union president, Patrick Lynch, said that the mayor had "blood on his hands."
During the mayor's speech at Saturday's funeral, officers turned their backs on the screen showing the service outside the church.
“Our hearts are aching, we’re feeling this physically,” De Blasio told those gathered inside. “All of this city is grieving…for so many reasons but the most personal is that we’ve lost such a good man.”
De Blasio and his police department have been at odds since he took office, most recently for fostering support of city-wide protests following the death of Eric Garner, and the subsequent failure to indict the officer who killed him.
Also of note at Saturday's service: Justin Ramos, the officer’s oldest son, was seen wearing his father’s jacket.
A New York City police officer hadn't died in the line of duty since 2011. Both Ramos and Liu were promoted to first-grade detective.
Click through for more scenes from today's events. (People)
NYPD rank-and-file union boss: "we have one more hero to shoulder." pic.twitter.com/aRahxdeU6j
— Matthew Chayes (@chayesmatthew) December 27, 2014Relentless @billdeblasio critic Giuliani shook de Blasio's hand at Ramos funeral. They're whispering to each other. pic.twitter.com/o1Xf0O2mFl
— Matthew Chayes (@chayesmatthew) December 27, 2014Taps as coffin of slain NYPD officer Rafael Ramos is carried from church. pic.twitter.com/owAvpBLvYg
— Matthew Chayes (@chayesmatthew) December 27, 2014Ex-cop (r.) who led protests against NYPD on #EricGarner has front-and-center spot outside funeral of slain officer. pic.twitter.com/CHshdOzpFR
— Matthew Chayes (@chayesmatthew) December 27, 2014Canine units from Nassau and Suffolk police... pic.twitter.com/dYlsMqA10v
— Matthew Chayes (@chayesmatthew) December 27, 2014"Make sure all cell phones are off or on vibrate," NYPD usher tells cops filing into church for colleague's funeral. pic.twitter.com/BA4p5NbEWk
— Matthew Chayes (@chayesmatthew) December 27, 2014