New England Police Departments Attend Funeral Of Slain NYPD Officer
NEW YORK (CBS) – Thousands of people, including police officers from across New England and the country, have traveled to New York for the funeral of one of two NYPD officers shot and killed while sitting in their police car.
A funeral service began Saturday morning inside Christ Tavernacle Church for Rafael Ramos, who was killed along with Officer Wenjian Liu as the pair sat in their patrol car on December 20.
Police departments from across Massachusetts and other New England states have members in the crowd of police officers who are paying their respects outside the church.
Vice President Joe Biden addressed the crowd during the funeral service.
Biden addressed Ramos' family, and said that while he never met the officer, he admired his bravery and adding that the officers' deaths "touched the soul of the entire nation."
"The time will come when Rafael's memory will bring a smile to your lips before it brings a tear for your eye. That's when you know it'll be OK," said Biden, speaking to Ramos' wife and children.
The service lasted about 90 minutes, and officers who stood outside the church watched the funeral on large television screens as they paid their respects to Ramos.
Massachusetts State Police are among the large number of departments with officers in attendance, along with MBTA Transit Police and many towns including Duxbury, Arlington, Waltham, Norwood and Methuen.
According to CBS New York, Liu's family members are expected to arrive in New York from China by early next week.
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