New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio called slain NYPD officer Wenjian Liu a courageous family man who followed "a path of kindness" as he addressed a crowded funeral home in Brooklyn Sunday.
While many officers listened respectfully, some still turned their backs in protest, as they had done previously, at Liu's partner's funeral a week ago.
Earlier in the day, thousands of NYPD officers and mourners crowded a funeral home, joined by law enforcement official from throughout the country.
Buddhist monks led a Chinese ceremony for the 32-year-old officer, followed by a police ceremony and eulogies led by a chaplain. Officers lined up for blocks outside the Aievoli Funeral Home in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn to pay their respects.
New York Police Department (NYPD) officers carry the casket of their fellow officer Wenjian Liu during a funeral in New York's borough of Brooklyn on January 4, 2015.
Liu, born in China, moved to the United States with his parents and a dream: To become a New York City Police officer. He was on the force for seven years and got married two months before he was killed along with his partner, Officer Rafael Ramos, on Dec. 20. Ramos' funeral was held a week ago.
"When he joined the NYPD he knew his family would worry about him," the mayor said. "So he did one of those caring acts that showed the good in him. At the end of every work day he called his father to tell his family he was safe and was on his way home."
His widow, Pei Xia Chen, spoke through tears as she said to Liu, "I love you forever."
"I thank you for sharing this moment with me, with us, with our family, to reflect the goodness of his soul and the wonderful man that he is. He is my soul mate … my best friend," she said.
Officer Lucas Grant of the Richmond County Sheriff's Office in Augusta, Georgia, said he came to Liu's funeral with about six other officers from neighboring departments "to support our family."
"When one of us loses our lives, we have to come together," Grant said.
As Liu's family arrived for his funeral, Police Commissioner William Bratton tweeted: "We will never forget his sacrifice."
Some police officers turn their backs as Mayor Bill de Blasio speaks during the funeral of New York Police Department Officer Wenjian Liu at Aievoli Funeral Home, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015, in the Brooklyn borough of New York.
At Liu's wake on Saturday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo called him a hero.
"This was his dream, to become an NYPD officer," Cuomo said outside his wake. "In some ways, it's the ultimate assimilation into America, into New York, to become a police officer. And obviously he was so proud, and he was so proud for his whole family."
The governor was unable to attend the funeral because of the death of his father.
Liu was killed along with Officer Ramos as they sat in their patrol car in Brooklyn. The shooter, Ismaaiyl Brinsley, referenced the killings of unarmed black men at the hands of white officers online when he promised to put "wings on pigs."
Investigators say Brinsley was an emotionally disturbed loner who started off his rampage by shooting and wounding an ex-girlfriend in Baltimore. He later killed himself.
Over the weekend, NYPD Commissioner William Bratton asked officers not to turn their backs during Liu's funeral, as they did during Ramos' funeral, in protest of what they say is Mayor Bill de Blasio's role in creating an environment that led to the police killings. Still, some officers appeared to turn their backs while de Blasio spoke during the funeral.
JEWEL SAMAD via Getty Images
Pei Xia Chen (C) widow of New York Police Department (NYPD) officer Wenjian Liu cries holding a picture of her husband during a funeral in New York's borough of Brooklyn on January 4, 2015.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Some police officers turn their backs in sign of disrespect as Mayor Bill de Blasio speaks during the funeral of New York Police Department Officer Wenjian Liu at Aievoli Funeral Home, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. Liu and his partner, officer Rafael Ramos, were killed Dec. 20 as they sat in their patrol car on a Brooklyn street. The shooter, Ismaaiyl Brinsley, later killed himself. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
shaffreytm / Instagram
Some NYPD officers turn their backs while New York City mayor Bil de Blasio speaks at slain NYPD officer Wenjian Liu's funeral in Brooklyn on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015.
rx / Twitter
NYPD Officers turn their backs to a video screen as New York City mayor Bill de Blasio speaks at a funeral for slain NYPD office Wenjian Liu on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015.
spannerjaxs / Instagram
Officers line the street to pay respects to slain NYPD officer Wenjian Liu in Brooklyn on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015.
rx / Twitter
Residents express their sympathies during the funeral for slain NYPD officer Wenjian Liu in Brooklyn on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Police officers arrive to the funeral of New York Police Department Officer Wenjian Liu at Aievoli Funeral Home, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. Liu and his partner, officer Rafael Ramos, were killed Dec. 20 as they sat in their patrol car on a Brooklyn street. The shooter, Ismaaiyl Brinsley, later killed himself. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
New York City mayor Bill de Blasio, center, walks with his wife Chirlane McCray while arriving to funeral services for New York City police officer Wenjian Liu at Aievoli Funeral Home, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. Liu and his partner, officer Rafael Ramos, were killed Dec. 20 as they sat in their patrol car on a Brooklyn street. The shooter, Ismaaiyl Brinsley, later killed himself. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Police officers from across the country gather for the funeral of New York Police Department Officer Wenjian Liu at Aievoli Funeral Home, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. Liu and his partner, officer Rafael Ramos, were killed Dec. 20 as they sat in their patrol car on a Brooklyn street. The shooter, Ismaaiyl Brinsley, later killed himself. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
New York City police officers march before funeral services for police officer Wenjian Liu at Aievoli Funeral Home, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. Liu and his partner, officer Rafael Ramos, were killed Dec. 20 as they sat in their patrol car on a Brooklyn street. The shooter, Ismaaiyl Brinsley, later killed himself. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Pedestrians pause outside the funeral of New York Police Department officer Wenjian Liu at Aievoli Funeral Home, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. Liu and his partner, officer Rafael Ramos, were killed Dec. 20 as they sat in their patrol car on a Brooklyn street. The shooter, Ismaaiyl Brinsley, later killed himself. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Officers pass a blue ribbon as they arrive to the funeral of New York Police Department Officer Wenjian Liu at Aievoli Funeral Home, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. Liu and his partner, officer Rafael Ramos, were killed Dec. 20 as they sat in their patrol car on a Brooklyn street. The shooter, Ismaaiyl Brinsley, later killed himself. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
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