Family and friends of Rafael Ramos, one of the two New York City police officers killed by a gunman on Saturday, urged the government to work with police and the community to ease the unrest that has gripped the city in recent weeks.
"I hope and pray that we can reflect on this tragic loss of life that has occurred so that we can move forward and find an amicable path to a peaceful co-existence," said the officer's aunt, Lucy Ramos. "We would like to extend out condolences to the Liu family also.
Ramos and his partner, Wenjian Liu, were killed by 28-year-old Ismaaiyl Abdula Brinsley as they sat in their patrol car in Brooklyn. Brinsley killed himself as he stood on a subway platform where he had been chased by police.
Lucy Ramos thanked all who had extended sympathy to her family.
"We don't want the City of New York to think that everyone is against the police department, said Juan Rodriguez, president of the 75th Precinct Council and a member of Advocates Without Borders.
The press conference was held in front of Ramos' childhood home.
"Mr. Mayor, you need to have a sitdown, and you need to get everything corrected from the mayor's office down, because this is wrong. We need you to work with the community and the police department. We don't need you to just go to one side. The police department needs you as well," Rodriguez said. "That's why you got their backs yesterday."
Mayor Bill de Blasio has been criticized for seeming to side with anti-police protesters ever since a Staten Island grand jury declined to indict a white police officer in the death of a black man, Eric Garner, during an arrest over selling untaxed cigarettes.
Rodriguez referenced de Blasio's statement that he has warned his own biracial son to be careful in dealings with police.
"What if that was your son sitting in that patrol car? If that was your son that got shot in the head?" Rodriguez said.