Slain NYPD Officer Rafael Ramos honored at funeral
NEW YORK (KABC) -- New York Police Department Officer Rafael Ramos, who was shot to death last week with his partner in their patrol car, was honored at a funeral Saturday with thousands of officers from across the country attending in solidarity.
The services for Ramos took place at the Christ Tabernacle Church in Queens.
PHOTOS: Funeral for slain NYPD officer Rafael Ramos
A contingent of officers from the LAPD and the L.A. Police Protective League traveled to New York to pay their respects and attend Saturday's service.
Also in attendance were Vice President Joe Biden, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and NYPD Commissioner William Bratton.
Officers watching the funeral service on giant screens joined those inside in applauding when Biden called the New York Police Department the finest in the world.
"When an assassin's bullet targeted two officers, it targeted this city and it touched the soul of an entire nation," the vice president said.
VIDEO: Vice President Joe Biden pays tribute to family of slain NYPD officer
Cuomo called the Dec. 20 daylight shootings of the officers "an attack on all of us."
Ramos, a 40-year-old married father of two, was described as a compassionate man. Ramos' commanding officer said he kept Bible study books in his locker.
"Being a police officer was his life's ministry," Cuomo said.
VIDEO: NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo pays tribute to slain NYPD officer
De Blasio said New York City lost a hero, and described Ramos as a "remarkable man."
Hundreds of officers standing outside the church turned their backs on the mayor as he spoke during the service. The reaction follows comments from police union officials who said the mayor contributed to a climate of mistrust toward police amid anti-police protests.
The police union president and others also turned their backs on the mayor in a sign of disrespect at the hospital following the shooting last week.
Inside the church, mourners gave de Blasio polite applause before and after his speech.
VIDEO: Mayor Bill de Blasio calls slain NYPD officer peacemaker
Ramos was studying to be a pastor. At the Saturday service, Bratton appointed Ramos as an honorary chaplain of the NYPD's 84th Precinct.
Funeral plans for his partner, Officer Wenjian Liu, have yet to be announced.
The officers were killed Dec. 20 while sitting in their cruiser on a Brooklyn street. The assailant killed himself.
The brazen daylight shootings shook the city and put an end to large-scale local protests criticizing police over a series of high-profile, in-custody deaths.
Ramos and Liu were the first officers to die in the line of duty in New York since 2011.
They have both been posthumously promoted to first-grade detective, police said.
JetBlue flew in 670 law enforcement officers from across the country after offering free transportation for those wishing to attend the funeral.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
