Thousands of police officers filled the streets on a rainy Sunday morning outside a Brooklyn funeral home to pay their respects to Wenjian Liu, one of two NYPD officers who was gunned down last month while sitting in a patrol car.
"All of our city is heartbroken today," New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said during his remarks at the funeral, his voice quiet and shaking. "All of the city is feeling the pain right now."
Many, but not all, of the police officers gathered outside turned their backs while de Blasio spoke at the funeral, despite earlier urging from NPYD Police Commissioner William Bratton not to do so.
"A hero's funeral is about grieving, not grievance," Bratton said in a memo on Saturday. "I issue no mandates, and I make no threats of discipline, but I remind you that when you don the uniform of this department, you are bound by the tradition, honor and decency that go with it."
As de Blasio takes the podium at Wenjian Liu's funeral, maybe half of the assembled cops turn their backs: pic.twitter.com/RiWcxZCN96— Nick Pinto (@macfathom) January 4, 2015
Section of dozen or so #NYPD officers with backs turned on 65th St as Mayor de Blasio speaks at Officer Liu funeral pic.twitter.com/d4fJ4H8XZU— Joe Jackson (@joejackson) January 4, 2015
Officers turn their backs on Mayor. Top pic taken just before DeBlasio spoke; bottom pic during his speech pic.twitter.com/o4T0u1lGcE— Kristin Thorne (@KristinThorne) January 4, 2015
Tensions between the NYPD and de Blasio boiled over in the hours and days after Liu and his partner Rafael Ramos were shot, as some police officials and politicians argued the mayor had encouraged demonstrations against police brutality following a Staten Island grand jury decision not to indict a police officer in the chokehold death of Eric Garner.
Ismaaiyl Brinsley, the 28-year-old who shot the two officers before killing himself on a subway platform, had hinted at his plans to assassinate NYPD officers in a series of Instagram posts, one of which referenced Garner's death in a hashtag.
At the end of his remarks on Sunday, de Blasio urged New Yorkers to find common ground.
"Let us rededicate ourselves to those great New York traditions of mutual understanding and living in harmony," he said. "Let us move forward by strengthening the bonds that unite us."
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo was originally slated to speak at Sunday's funeral, but was forced to cancel following the death this week of his father, former New York governor Mario Cuomo.
Family members and police officials described Liu as a generous and good man who enjoyed simple pleasures, including fishing and the outdoors. They said Liu took great care of his parents and wife, who he had married just months earlier. Liu knew he wanted to become a police officer at a young age, but those who knew him say that desire increased after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
A solemn day as we lay to rest NYPD Detective Liu, one of the Finest. We will never forget his sacrifice. pic.twitter.com/R4kByKZP5X— Commissioner Bratton (@CommissBratton) January 4, 2015
NYPD ceremonial detail marches into place for final farewell to Det. Wenjian Liu. pic.twitter.com/YDu55qoc2Z— Miguel Marquez (@miguelmarquez) January 4, 2015
Thousands of officers wait for funeral for Wenjian Liu to begin. pic.twitter.com/ReDkmIEBRS— Stephen Nessen (@s_nessen) January 4, 2015
Services for Det Wenjian Liu this weekend. May his sacrifice never be forgotten. Prayers for strength for his family pic.twitter.com/e7kiyBmrb5— NYPD 110th Precinct (@NYPD110Pct) January 3, 2015