On December 21,2014 two NYPD officers were shot and killed execution style while sitting in their car. Rafael Ramos and USA Today covered the story after it took place. Wenjian Liu were targeted based solely on their occupation. The suspect Ismaaiyl Brinsley was found in a subway station a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He was arrested in Cobb County,Georgia in 2011 for a host of different charges including felony possession of a firearm and obstructing a police officer. He was given a fine of $1,700 and probation. His probation was revoked in 2013 for an unknown reason. |
Joe Biden spoke at Rafael Ramos' funeral saying that "when the assassin's bullet targeted the officer, it targeted New York also". Along with Vice President Biden, thousands of people showed up to pay their respects including fellow NYPD officers and Mayor DeBlasio. In recent months leading up to Mayor DeBlasio received backlash for his anti-police comments. So much backlash that thousands of NYPD officers turned their backs to him while he spoke. But Joe Biden stole the show with his appearance. Joe Biden said "being a cop was not what they, but who they were." That was so true that these two officers gave their life for a job where people will walk up and shoot them in the head because of the uniform they wear. I am so passionate about this is issue because while I am going to law school, I want to be a Georgia State Patrol Officer. I do not want the Vice President showing up to my funeral because I was shot for sitting in my car. It was a great honor but at the same time it was uncalled for.
In chapter five of Thank You For Arguing, Jay Heinrichs talks about decorum. This is great decorum because the audience expects the speaker to call the officers heroes and be apologetic to the family. But I feel like Joe Biden took it a further. Vice President Biden put New York into his speech. He compared this to 9/11 and Hurricane Sandy. The death toll was not as large but innocent people being killed was the same. Bad decorum would of been if Joe Biden got up spoke about his campaign or something else that did not pertain to remembering these two great men. He did not do that so I think he showed great decorum.