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Huge funeral for shot New York policeman Rafael Ramos Huge funeral for shot New York policeman Rafael Ramos
(35 minutes later)
Tens of thousands of people are attending the funeral in New York of Rafael Ramos, one of the two policemen shot dead a week ago.Tens of thousands of people are attending the funeral in New York of Rafael Ramos, one of the two policemen shot dead a week ago.
Vice-President Joe Biden praised the "finest police department in the world" at the service, attended by police forces from across the US and Canada.Vice-President Joe Biden praised the "finest police department in the world" at the service, attended by police forces from across the US and Canada.
Officer Ramos's coffin lay overnight in the church in the Queens district.Officer Ramos's coffin lay overnight in the church in the Queens district.
He and Wenjian Liu were shot by a man who said he was avenging the killing of unarmed black people by police.He and Wenjian Liu were shot by a man who said he was avenging the killing of unarmed black people by police.
Police have yet to announce funeral details for Officer Liu.Police have yet to announce funeral details for Officer Liu.
Mayor Bill de Blasio is also among the mourners. It is the first time he is publicly mingling with police officers and union representatives since officers, angered by his support for anti-police protesters, turned their backs to him at the hospital where the two men were pronounced dead on 20 December. Police Commissioner Bill Bratton told the mourners Officer Ramos had been a "hero".
The mayor briefly attended a memorial service for the officer on Friday. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York Mayor Bill de Blasio also paid tribute to the dead officer as well as to the New York Police Department (NYPD).
'Man of faith' Police officers and union representatives, angered by the mayor's earlier support for anti-police, had turned their backs on him at the hospital where the two men were pronounced dead on 20 December.
Thousands of officers, many in blue dress uniform, came to the Christ Tabernacle Church in Queens for the funeral. 'Killed by a madman'
"This is probably going to be the largest one, maybe in the history of the police department," Stephen Davis, the department's chief spokesman, was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency. "To the Ramos family, we're all lucky to have Rafael," Vice-President Biden told the congregation at the Christ Tabernacle Church in Queens.
"If nothing else it's the way this was done," he added, referring to the two officers' murder. "He didn't just have a bible in his locker, he lived it in his heart. He was a cop for all the right reasons."
It was, he said, "an out and out calculated assassination, even notwithstanding the current controversy, the protests across the country". Officer Ramos, 40, had been studying to become a police chaplain and was described as "a man of great faith" by a pastor who knew him.
When the Ramos family arrived, the eldest son Justin, wearing his father's New York police department (NYPD) jacket was hugged by a police officer. Commissioner Bratton, his voice choking with emotion, announced he had promoted both officers posthumously to Detective First Grade.
Officer Ramos, 40, had been studying to become a police chaplain. "Rafael Ramos was assassinated because he represented all of us," he said.
"He was a man of great faith," Ralph Castillo, a pastor, told AFP News agency. "We're going to miss him a great deal." The two police officers had been killed by a "madman", he continued, who had only been able to see two uniforms, not the people wearing them.
When the Ramos family arrived for the service, the eldest son Justin, wearing his father's NYPD jacket, was hugged by a police officer.
Mayor's appealMayor's appeal
The two police officers were shot after weeks of protests following the decision of a grand jury not to press charges against a white police officer over the death of unarmed black man Eric Garner, who was placed in a chokehold while being restrained. The two police officers were shot following weeks of protests against police.
He was one of several black men or boys killed by police in 2014. The protests came after a grand jury decided not to press charges against a white police officer over the death of unarmed black man Eric Garner, who was placed in a chokehold while being restrained by New York police officers.
On Monday, Mayor de Blasio urged New York to unite in supporting the families of the two slain officers. Mr Garner was one of several black men or boys killed by police in 2014 whose cases galvanised protest groups.
He asked the city to "put aside" debate and protests in the coming days.
Mr de Blasio has been accused of stoking tensions between police and minorities in the city.Mr de Blasio has been accused of stoking tensions between police and minorities in the city.
Immediately after the double murder, police unions said the mayor had "blood on his hands" and former New York Governor George Pataki described the shootings as "a predictable outcome of divisive anti-cop rhetoric" from the mayor. Immediately after the double killings, police unions said the mayor had "blood on his hands" and former New York Governor George Pataki described the shootings as "a predictable outcome of divisive anti-cop rhetoric" from the mayor.
However, Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said for his part that he strongly rejected the notion the mayor had increased the risk to police officers by appearing to side with protesters following the death of Mr Garner. However, Mr Bratton said for his part that he strongly rejected the notion the mayor had increased the risk to police officers by appearing to side with protesters following the death of Mr Garner.
Black man Ismaaiyl Brinsley, 28, shot and killed officers Ramos and Liu as they were sitting in a patrol vehicle in the borough of Brooklyn. He then killed himself nearby.Black man Ismaaiyl Brinsley, 28, shot and killed officers Ramos and Liu as they were sitting in a patrol vehicle in the borough of Brooklyn. He then killed himself nearby.
Brinsley had a history of violence and mental instability and had been arrested at least 19 times in Georgia and Ohio, police said. Before attacking the police officers, he had shot and injured his girlfriend.Brinsley had a history of violence and mental instability and had been arrested at least 19 times in Georgia and Ohio, police said. Before attacking the police officers, he had shot and injured his girlfriend.
On the day of the shooting, he went on social media to say he was planning to kill police officers.On the day of the shooting, he went on social media to say he was planning to kill police officers.