Slain Guyana-born New York cop to be buried in homeland; Ex Guyanese police in US condemn killing

Last Updated on Thursday, 22 October 2015, 22:13 by GxMedia

As relatives prepare to return the body of a New York policeman to his native Guyana for burial, the Guyana Ex-Police Association of America condemned the shooting death of Randolph Holder.

“We openly condemn this vicious wanton act against yet another member of the New York City Police Department,” said the organisation.

The association of former Guyanese policemen and women expressed sadness at the “vicious killing” of 33-year old Holder who was the son of Reginald Holder Snr. #9658,  former member of the Guyana Police Force.

“As former police officers, we know the dangers law enforcement officers confront regularly as they strive to keep our streets safe. Their sacrifice is immeasurable and for this we are eternally grateful.

Expressing condolences to the entire Holder family, the Guyana Ex-Police Association of America  called on all members of the Guyanese Community to join them in supporting Mayor Bill deBlasio and New York Police Commissioner Bill Bratton “as they guide New York City through this tempestuous period.”

New York’s Newsday.com reported Thursday that  Holder’s body would be flown back to his native Georgetown, Guyana, for burial in a family plot in a cemetery after a funeral in New York City next week.

The funeral is expected to be witnessed by up to 30,000 law enforcement officers from around the country, a law enforcement source said.

Attendance at the Holder funeral is expected to be as great as what was seen during the services for Dets. Raphael Ramos and Wenjian Liu, who were assassinated late December because the weekend is giving people more time to make travel arrangements, the official said.

Visiting for Holder is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday at Community Church of the Nazarene, 1414 Central Ave. in Far Rockaway. Holder’s funeral is scheduled for 3 p.m. Wednesday at the church.

Holder’s fellow housing police officers from Police Service Area 5 in Manhattan will serve as honor guards during the visiting and on the steps of the church during the funeral, the official noted.

Meanwhile, police are still searching the waters of the East River and surrounding shoreline for the .40-caliber handgun allegedly used by Tyrone Howard to shoot and kill Holder last Tuesday night during a pursuit along the promenade area of the FDR Drive.