Family Of Wenjian Liu Visits Makeshift Memorial For Murdered Officers

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - The family of officer Wenjian Liu cried during a visit to the makeshift memorial to him and officer Rafael Ramos on Christmas Eve.

A line of police officers stood saluting in silence as they placed two huge wreaths to lay at the site.

Liu and Ramos were shot dead in Brooklyn Saturday.

The makeshift memorial to them has continued to grow ever since. It includes hundreds of flowers stacked 10 feet deep, reported WCBS 880's Jim Smith. A canopy protects the numerous prayer candles, allowing them to shine despite the rain.

"And that just shows how much love these police officers had, and how much people pay their respects to them," said Marty Grace of Jamaica, Queens.

Police officers continue to pay their respects in a steady stream, Smith reported.

Liu's partner Rafael Ramos will be laid to rest at Christ Tabernacle Church in Glendale, Queens this Saturday. Vice President Joe Biden will attend. As of Wednesday, no cameras will be allowed inside during the services, CBS2 reported.

Blue paper signs reading "No parking Saturday" have already been posted along Myrtle Avenue. More than 20,000 officers from around the country are expected to attend, WCBS 880's Peter Haskell reported.

"Listen, if it's an imposition for one day to the community, then big deal. You know what I'm saying? This man lost his life," a woman named Carol, who lives down the block from the church, told Haskell. "He really represents all of us, I mean, he's here to protect the community."

Some businesses on the street won't open, Haskell reported.

JetBlue said it has offered to fly the families of Ramos and Liu to the funeral. The airline is also offering free flights for up to two officers from each department along the routes it serves, space permitting.

Liu's funeral arrangements haven't been announced as yet. Officials are working to bring his family over from China for the event.

Mayor Bill de Blasio has called for an end to police reform protests until after the officers are buried. Despite that call, several hundred activists took the streets Tuesday night.

Activist Salaam Ismial with the United Youth Council has put his police reform protests on hold.

"These officers were killed by a crazy person," Ismial told Smith. "It wasn't a person from an organization, it wasn't a person from the movement."

Ismial told Smith those who speak out against police abuse have the same responsibility to speak out against acts of violence.

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