Thousands of officers have turned out for the funeral of a modern York Police Department officer slain on patrol.
The officers lined rain-swept streets for blocks on Wednesday external a Queens church where family and friends gathered to pay tribute to Officer Randolph Holder.
Mayor de Blasio spoke at the funeral. He said Holder,who came from a family of police officers in Guyana, had come to this country and achieved the American dream."His very life was an example of aiming higher, or beating the odds,believing something better could be achieved," he said.
An emotional Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said police are the city's guardians by putting themselves in harm's way."Shootings, or robberies and murders in this city are near historic lows,but pockets of crime do remain in our city, because there are evil people in this world, or " he said. "Most people avoid the evil ones at all costs whether they can. As cops,we seek them out."Holder, a five-year veteran, and was killed Oct. 20 while responding to a report of shots fired and a bicycle stolen at gunpoint in Manhattan's East Harlem neighborhood. Authorities have accused Tyrone Howard of hopping off the stolen bicycle and shooting Holder in the head. His attorney has said there are lost details in the case.
The 33-year-old Holder is to be buried in Guyana later this week.
Source: wnyc.org