Murdered New York City officer to be mourned by 1,000 police

[October 28, 2015]  By Elizabeth Barber
 
 NEW YORK (Reuters) - More than 1,000 police officers are expected to attend Wednesday's funeral of slain New York City Police Officer Randolph Holder, while one of the toughest critics of the police department keeps his distance.

The service for Holder, 33, is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon at the Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral of New York, a week after he was shot to death while on patrol in New York City’s East Harlem neighborhood. He is the fourth New York City officer to be killed on duty in the last 12 months.

Holder's wake on Tuesday in the city's borough of Queens drew hundreds of police officers who waited in a line four blocks long to pay their respects inside the church.

Members of Holder's family, led by his mother, arrived at the church in two white limousines, passing by rows of trees and light poles tied with blue ribbons in his honor.
 

Tyrone Howard, the 30-year-old suspect in the murder, was indicted by a grand jury on Tuesday, according to prosecutors. He is scheduled to be in court on Nov. 24 on charges of murder and robbery.

His defense lawyer said Howard denies the allegations.

The Rev. Al Sharpton, a prominent civil rights leader and critic of police treatment of minorities, on Tuesday canceled plans to be the eulogist at Holder’s funeral, saying he was concerned that his presence would be more divisive than unifying.

Holder was a third-generation police officer. His grandfather and father served as officers in Holder's native Guyana. Holder's body will be flown to Guyana for burial after Wednesday's service.

News that Howard had avoided prison for selling crack cocaine through a drug diversion program drew sharp criticism last week from city officials. Mayor Bill de Blasio on Friday proposed changes to state law that he said would ensure dangerous criminals remain behind bars.

Advocates for the diversion program, which offers treatment as an alternative to incarceration for drug addicts, have warned against making major policy changes based on one incident.

(Reporting by Elizabeth Barber; Editing by Toni Reinhold)

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