Funeral held for NYPD recruit Edgar Ordonez, 33, who died at Bronx training facility days before graduating

NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — NYPD Probationary Officer Edgar Ordonez was laid to rest at the Bronx church he grew up attending on Thursday morning after his death last week during an apparent medical episode at a department training facility.

The funeral—attended by Ordonez’s family, friends, Mayor Eric Adams, NYPD leaders and officers—was held at 10 a.m. at the Church of St.
Anselm on Tinton Avenue in the Melrose section.

“Edgar attended St. Anselm’s Catholic school for elementary to junior high school,” Eliza Ordonez, his sister, said. “While attending St. Anselm’s, Edgar participated in the Police Athletic League at the 41st NYPD precinct. This is where the dream of being an officer was planted.”

Ordonez, 33, collapsed on the morning of July 10 at Rodman’s Neck in the Bronx, an operations base used by police for weapons and tactical training. He was transported to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.

His death came less than a week before his graduation from the department training program, and at his would-be graduation on Monday, Police Commissioner Edward Caban spoke on the sudden loss and honored Ordonez’s dream to serve New York City.

“Edgar was taken far too soon, before we even knew the difference he was about to make in our city,” Caban said. “He joined this department to change people’s lives for the better, and for all who knew him he did exactly that.”

Adams expanded on these sentiments at Thursday’s service, directing his address the Ordonez’s family.

“I say to the family of Edgar, your son was an ambassador. He represents the greatness of Honduras. He represents what you wanted in a child. To believe in family, to believe in faith and to believe in public safety,” the mayor said. “You lost a son, but you have picked up a family.”

Following Ordonez’s death last week, fellow recruits, officers and member of the public lined up outside the hospital “in a solemn tribute to this young officer” as his body was transferred.

The medical examiner’s office will determine Ordonez’s exact cause of death.

Ordonez will be interred at St. Raymond New Cemetery on Lafayette Avenue in the Bronx.