Dozens of New York City police officers turned their backs on Mayor Bill de Blasio during services Sunday to honor and remember a police officer who was killed while on the job last month. The protest defied a request from the city’s police chief not to use the funeral to protest the mayor.
“This city welcomed detective Liu,” de Blasio said, delivering a eulogy at the service. “New York stands a little taller today because of the time he walked among us.”
Officer Wenjian Liu was shot and killed along with his partner Rafael Ramos on Dec. 20 by a man who targeted the officers. The funeral for Liu had been delayed to allow family members to travel from China for the services. Liu himself moved to New York from China before joining the NYPD. Both the officer’s father and newlywed wife also delivered emotional eulogies for their fallen loved one.
“To me, he is my soul mate,” said Pei Xia Chen, Liu’s widow. “Wenjian is an incredible husband, son, co-worker and friend. My best friend.”
News of the protest added an unusually prominent dose of politics to the somber affair. As de Blasio praised Liu, officers from the NYPD and elsewhere turned away. William Bratton, the city’s police chief, had sent a department-wide memo Saturday asking that the funeral be about “grieving, not grievance.”
“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,” he said in the memo.
See Thousands of People Gather for Slain NYPD Officer's Funeral
Widow Pei Xia Chen holds a photo of slain New York Police Department officer Wenjian Liu as his casket departs his funeral in the Brooklyn borough of New York on Jan. 4, 2015. Peter Foley—EPAA policeman stands next to an image of slain New York Police Department officer Wenjian Liu during his funeral in the Brooklyn borough of New York on Jan. 4, 2015. Carlo Allegri—ReutersLaw enforcement officers stand with some turning their backs as New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio speaks on a monitor outside the funeral for NYPD officer Wenjian Liu in the Brooklyn borough of New York on Jan. 4, 2015. Shannon Stapleton—ReutersOfficers carry the casket of Police Officer Wenjian Liu from a funeral service at on Jan. 4, 2015 in the Brooklyn borough of New York.Eric Thayer—Getty ImagesLaw enforcement officers salute Officer Wenjian Liu as his hearse drives down 65th street in the Brooklyn borough of New York on Jan. 4, 2015.An Rong XuLocals look on as Mayor Bill de Blasio speaks during the funeral of New York Police Department Officer Wenjian Liu at Aievoli Funeral Home on Jan. 4, 2015 in the Brooklyn borough of New York.John Minchillo—APA limo for family members is seen following the funeral of slain New York Police Department officer Wenjian Liu's in the Brooklyn borough of New York on Jan. 4, 2015. Carlo Allegri—ReutersPolice officers from across the country gather for the funeral of New York Police Department Officer Wenjian Liu at Aievoli Funeral Home on Jan. 4, 2015, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. John Minchillo—APLaw enforcement officers stand with some turning their backs as New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio speaks on a monitor outside the funeral for NYPD officer Wenjian Liu in the Brooklyn borough of New York on Jan. 4, 2015. Shannon Stapleton—ReutersLocals stand in a doorway as police officers arrive for the funeral of New York Police Department Officer Wenjian Liu at Aievoli Funeral Home, Jan. 4, 2015 in the Brooklyn borough of New York. John Minchillo—APA spectator looks out onto officers during the funeral of New York Police Department Officer Wenjian Liu at Aievoli Funeral Home on Jan. 4, 2015 in the Brooklyn borough of New York. John Minchillo—APThe hearse carrying NYPD officer Wenjian Liu makes its way under a US flag en route to the cemetery in the Brooklyn borough of New York on Jan. 4, 2015. Shannon Stapleton—ReutersPolice officers wipe their tears during the funeral of New York Police Department Officer Wenjian Liu at Aievoli Funeral Home Jan. 4, 2015 in the Brooklyn borough of New York. John Minchillo—APPolice helicopters do a fly over at the conclusion of the funeral service for slain New York City Police Officer Wenjian Liu on Jan. 4, 2015 in New York.Spencer Platt—Getty Images
