Rafael Ramos was an unusual cop . He saw the streets of New York as his ministry . In fact , he was just hours away from becoming a lay chaplain and graduating from a community-crisis chaplaincy program before he and fellow New York police Officer Wenjian Liu were gunned down in their patrol car Saturday in Brooklyn . The gunman in the two officers ' killing , Ismaaiyl Brinsley , 28 , was found dead of self-inflicted gunshot wounds at a subway station immediately after the slayings . Services for Liu are pending . On Friday , a police honor guard took Ramos ' casket into Christ Tabernacle in Glendale , New York , where an afternoon wake was being held . The visitation will be followed by a memorial service at 7 p.m . ET and a funeral service Saturday morning . Some 25,000 police officers from around the country are expected to attend the funeral , according to the New York Police Department . JetBlue told CNN it has arranged for approximately 670 law enforcement officers to travel to New York for free . Charities offer help to families of slain officers . Speakers at the funeral will include Vice President Joe Biden , Mayor Bill De Blasio and NYPD Commissioner William Bratton . Ramos , 40 , enjoyed the spiritual dimension to life and work . `` He told me that his job even with the NYPD , he felt he was doing God 's work , '' the Rev . Marcos Miranda , president of the New York State Chaplain Task Force , told Arise America on YouTube . `` He felt that he was protecting and serving his community and that was a sort of a ministry for him . And I totally agreed with him , '' Marcos said . `` He said this type of ministry , the chaplaincy , he could see himself doing this in the future as a full-time ministry after he retired from the NYPD . '' Marcos heads an organization that runs the 10-week course for lay chaplaincy , which Ramos completed , the minister said . Widow and two sons . Ramos always carried a smile , Marcos said . `` He had the kindest eyes you could see . They radiated kindness and compassion , '' Marcos said . Ramos leaves a wife , Maritza , whom he married in 1993 , and two sons , Justin and Jaden , said the Rev . Adam Durso , executive pastor of Christ Tabernacle , which Ramos attended for nearly 14 years . To his close friends and even to his family , Ramos often went by Ralph , not Rafael . `` Ralph was definitely a family man . He always talked about his kids and how well they were doing athletically and academically , '' Durso said . A son 's farewell . Ramos ' son Jaden recounted on his Facebook page how `` I had to say bye to my father '' after the shooting . `` ( H ) e was the best father I could ask for . It 's horrible that someone gets shot dead just for being a police officer . Everyone says they hate cops but they are the people that they call for help . I will always love you and I will never forget you . RIP Dad , '' Jaden wrote . An usher to all . On his Facebook page , Ramos spoke of his faith and noted that he studied at Faith Evangelical College and Seminary in Tacoma , Washington , which also offers online courses . Ramos posted this quote as the cover photo at the top of his Facebook page : `` If your way is n't working , try God 's way . '' Ramos was active in his church . He served as an usher and as part of the church 's marriage ministry and life group ministry , Durso said . `` When his team was scheduled to serve , we never worried about whether Ralph would be there with his team to help . He was a humble man and was willing to help at any capacity , helping people to their seats , moms with their baby carriages or the elderly in and out of our elevator , '' Durso said in a statement .
Police honor guard takes Ramos ' casket into church . Rafael Ramos , 17 , described being police officer as ` ` God 's work , '' chaplain ' . He was about to graduate from a 10-week lay chaplaincy program . Ramos and Officer Wenjian Liu were gunned down while in patrol car .