Hundreds of police officers lined up to enter the Church of St. Anselm and St. Roch in the Bronx to pay respects to their fallen brother, Edgar Ordonez, on Wednesday.

“It’s overwhelming. It’s amazing. It’s beautiful to see,” family friend Adela Guity said.


What You Need To Know

  • Hundreds of police officers lined up to enter the Church of St. Anselm and St. Roch in the Bronx to pay respects to their fallen brother, Edgar Ordonez, on Wednesday

  • Ordonez lost consciousness while training at the NYPD shooting range at Rodman's Neck, and later died at the hospital

  • A family friend said becoming an officer was Ordonez’s lifelong dream

  • Ordonez’s funeral will be held Thursday at 10 a.m.

Ordonez was a recruit, less than a week away from becoming a police officer, when he lost consciousness while training at the NYPD shooting range at Rodman’s Neck. He later died at the hospital.

Guity said becoming an officer was Ordonez’s lifelong dream.

“I just want people to know that whatever they want to do, whatever they want to accomplish in life — go for it. Go for your dreams, because that’s what Edgar did,” Guity said.

On Monday, more than 600 officers graduated from the NYPD police academy. There was just one person missing: Edgar Ordonez.

“I want to take a moment to remember the tragic loss we suffered last week,” Police Commissioner Edward Caban said at the graduation ceremony.

Caban led the new officers in remembering the 33-year-old and father of two.

“Before he knew the difference he was about to make in our city, he joined this department to change people’s lives for the better, and for all who knew him, he did exactly that,” Caban said.

“That’s exactly who he was. That’s how I remember him,” Guity said.

As loved ones prepared to say their goodbyes, Guity said Ordonez is now watching over his mother and his two children.

The official cause of death has not been released. Ordonez’s funeral will be held Thursday at 10 a.m.