A church and nearby roads in New York City were filled by thousands of police across the United States on Saturday for the funeral of a policeman, Officer Rafael Ramos, who was shot by a man seeking revenge. And hundreds of policeman turned their backs on Mayor Bill de Blasio while he eulogized the fallen policeman.

As the mayor rose from his seat to give the eulogy for the seven-year NYPD veteran, thousands of police officers in uniform turned away in silence. This was seen as a sign of disrespect as his words filled large TV monitors outside the Christ Tabernacle Church. Officials accused the mayor of contributing to the killings of Ramos and his partner because he fostered a “climate of mistrust” according to Fox News.

In the eulogy, the mayor first expressed his and the city’s condolences to Officer Ramos’ family. He pointed out that everyone in the city is grieving for different reasons, but the most “personal is that we lost such a good man.”

The policemen were angered by de Blasio’s sympathy for the countrywide protests demanding police reform. Similarly, New York police officers neglected de Blasio as he approached the hospital where Ramos and his partner, Wenjian Liu were pronounced dead one week ago.

Ramos’ family welcomed the mayor to the funeral, but even officers who did not participate in the gesture sympathized. A New York police officer said that several people are concerned the mayor has “taken a side” and that side is not the same as the officers’.

Ramos’ son delivered a tearful eulogy at the funeral that appeared on the same monitors. He proclaimed his father’s death a tragedy, but he said it will “not be in vain.”

Vice President Biden shared his condolences with Ramos’ two children directly and commended them for their heightened courage in the past few days. Biden also made one of several speeches regarding the increase of racial diversity, which was almost entirely Caucasian a few decades prior, in the police force in New York City. He said that the police force is capable of showing the nation “how to bridge any divide.”

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo stated that the force included officers from more than 50 nations and consisted of speakers of 64 languages. He continued by criticizing some protesters who have been rallying in the city on a nearly daily basis. He said that the NYPD were “protected the right of free speech” although they were targets of “abusive tirades.”

The service was one of the largest funerals held for an officer in New York City’s history. The uniformed officers filled nearly six city blocks and some 25,000 were said to be in attendance. The odd protest against the mayor made it unconventional.

The officers were shot on Dec. 20 on the street in their patrol car by a man avenging the killing of black men by white police. Investigators concluded that the shooter, Ismaaiyl Brinsley, shot and wounded his ex-girlfriend earlier that day. Ramos was described as selfless, caring and compassionate. He was a 40-year-old husband and father of two. His partner’s funeral date has yet to be announced.