GLENDALE (WABC) -- Friday and Saturday are solemn days for the NYPD and for New York City as a whole, but it is also a time for law enforcement to be on very high alert.
The outpouring of grief for slain officer Rafael Ramos can be seen in the streets and in the blue ribbons that now line a nearby fence outside the Christ Tabernacle Church in Glendale, Queens. Beneath all of the tributes is a strong undercurrent of security. There may be somebody out there that would try to press the issue, and push to see how far they can go, and heavy security is needed, especially for New York's finest. With as many as 25,000 officers expected for Saturday, police are taking no chances. Security cameras are being posted on light poles, there will be widespread street closures, rooftop lookouts, canine units, and the buzz of police helicopters above.
Ed Mullins, president of the Sergeants Association says many precautions are being taken, but he does not expect Saturday's service to turn ugly.
"Any type of threat to a police officer at that funeral would be a major mistake overall. I think that it could only work against the individual doing it," says Mullins.
Threats against police have spiked in recent days, including the arrest of 38-year-old Elvin Pyamps of Queens, who was overheard talking on his cell phone at a bank on Christmas Eve threatening to kill an officer. The conversation was overheard by a former NYPD officer, who then alerted authorities. The constant threats coming in have certainly raised the security concerns of the NYPD. Police later found several weapons, bulletproof vests and brass knuckles inside the man's home. He faces multiple charges and up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
The arrest clearly underscores the extremely tense backdrop for Friday's wake. The grief will be guarded.
Despite the massive funeral plan for tomorrow, security is a very high concern, and protests will not stop. A march has been planned for Saturday afternoon in Brooklyn