NYPD Chief Lights World's Largest Menorah, Honors Slain Officers

A light rain drizzled over Brooklyn’s Prospect Park area Monday night, but that didn’t deter about a hundred people from gathering to honor two slain NYPD officers during the lighting of the world’s largest menorah.

Organizers of the menorah lighting chose to dedicate the ceremony to two NYPD officers who were murdered, execution style, over the weekend. NYPD Chief of Transportation Thomas M. Chan joined the members of Chabad Park Slope and lit the first candle.

Officers Wenjian Liu, 32, and Rafael Ramos, 40, were shot and killed in broad daylight Saturday as they sat in their marked patrol car. The shooting followed weeks of protest in New York and nationwide related to the deaths of young black men who were confronted by white officers.

“On behalf of the New York City Police Department, I would like to thank all of the community for their prayers and support for all of the officers in our time of need,” Chan said. “We thank you for all that you’ve done.”

The world’s largest menorah, standing at 32-feet tall has claimed its space in the Grand Army Plaza of Prospect Park since 1985.

“Tonight’s menorah lighting [was] dedicated to two officers whose lives were taken while serving the community and protecting all of us,” said Rabbi Shimon Hecht, director of The World’s Largest Menorah. “The menorah is a symbol of freedom and that is exactly what Officers Liu and Ramos stood for. It is only befitting that the tallest candle in the world be lighted up in their memory.”

A moment of silence in honor of Officer Liu and Officer Ramos preceded the candle lighting.

Earlier in the day, Chief Chan tweeted, “Continued thoughts and prayers for Police Officer Wenjian Liu and Police Officer Rafael Ramos and their families. Fidelis Ad Mortem.”

• Also See: Young Son Of Executed Cop Posts Heartbreaking Note

The shooter, identified as Ismaaiyl Brinsley, 28, traveled to the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn after shooting his girlfriend in Maryland.

A fax sent by Baltimore Police arrived too late to warn New York officers, at virtually the same time the officers were being ambushed.

On Instagram, Brinsley reported wrote, “I’m Putting Wings On Pigs Today. They Take 1 Of Ours. . . Let’s Take 2 of Theirs.” The post included hashtags “ShootThePolice,” “RIP ErivGardner” and “RIPMikeBrown.”

After ambushing the two officers, Brinsley was pursued by police and shot himself on a crowded subway platform.

Before Chief Chan lit the first candle, Rabbi Hecht explained why the ninth candle of the menorah, the first to be lit, stood higher than the rest.

“The extra candle helps light the other ones. Therefore, he stands higher. When one dedicates their life to public service, they stand slightly higher than the rest,” Rabbi Hecht said. “Tonight we want to recognize the memory of the two officers that were shot in cold blood.”

The eight nights of Hanukkah began Dec. 16.

>>Photo Credit: Sydney Wu