QUEENS, NY, U.S.A.
POLICE OFFICER, 84TH PRECINCT, NEW YORK POLICE DEPARTMENT, BROOKLYN, NY
12/20/2014, BROOKLYN, NY, U.S.A.
Officer Rafael Ramos, N.Y.P.D. Shield No. 6335 was murdered December 20, 2014 with another officer for their choice of occupation. The killings of the two police officers were barbaric, and have cut a deep wound in the conscience and character of New York City.
Officer Ramos came to police work late, and had not done it long. He was 40, and knew the job for just three years. Officer Ramos sat with his partner, Officer Wenjian Liu, in a squad car, on a Brooklyn street corner one afternoon. Without warning or provocation, the officers were shot execution-style by an assassin determined to kill police officers. The executioner, Ismaaiyl Brinsley, shot and killed himself.
Officer Ramos leaves behind his wife Maritza, and two sons, Justin and Jaden,
Officer Ramos played basketball in the park with his sons. He listened to and blasted Spanish gospel music from his car. He “embodied a powerful idea. If your way isn’t working, try God’s way.”
Officer Ramos was studying to become a minister. Officer Ramos had attended the Faith Evangelical College and Seminary in Washington State. He hoped to serve his church as a chaplain. He was appointed the honorary chaplain of the 84th Precinct in which he served. And promoted posthumously to detective first grade. People knew Officer Ramos as a beloved father and husband, a cherished friend, a humble servant to a greater cause, whether it be his family, the church or society. He is described as funny, gracious and generous.
“My father was a hero,” Officer Ramos’ son Justin Ramos explained, “I couldn’t have asked for a better role model.”
Mourners from all corners of New York City — friends and strangers — came and paid their respects to “a humble man” willing to help in any capacity.
Pastor Ralph Castillo of Christ Tabernacle Church explained that the community will get through this tragedy, “Our response to 9/11, to Ferguson, to Eric Garner, is to pray. We have taken our hurt and our questions and our disappointment and we go to God and we pray.”
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