Tens of thousands of police officers and residents paid tribute to fallen NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller Saturday morning with an emotional funeral Mass in his hometown of Massapequa.
Diller, a three-year NYPD veteran and just 31 years old, was shot to death during a vehicle stop in Far Rockaway, Queens on March 25. Leaving behind a wife and infant son, Diller was posthumously promoted to detective while remembered as a jokester and a hero who was not afraid to confront danger whenever duty called.
A legion of officers from the NYPD and around the country stood to attention outside of the St. Rose of Lima R.C. Church in Massapequa to pay respects to Diller on this cold late March morning. Many of them embraced one another and held back tears as they raised Diller’s casket on their shoulders and marched him inside the house of worship.
A legion of officers stood to attention outside of the St. Rose of Lima R.C Church located at 2 Bayview Avenue to pay respects to NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller, who was shot and killed in the line of duty on Monday in Far Rockaway.Photo by Dean Moses
Speakers stated that he was no stranger to risk taking, charging that he had taken a loaded gun off the streets mere days before he was killed.
“He ran towards danger, taking risks, making arrests and, undoubtedly, saving lives,” Mayor Eric Adams said in his eulogy. “Today we mourn his life. We reflect on his bravery. We remember his sacrifice.”
Above his role as a police officer, Diller’s widow said he was even more proud to be the father of 1-year-old Ryan.
“This is devastating,” Stephanie Diller said. “It breaks my heart that Ryan was robbed getting to know him. There was so many things he wanted to teach him.”
In honor of Officer Diller’s sacrifice, Police Commissioner Edward Caban promoted him to first-grade detective, garnering a rousing round of applause. Caban presented Diller’s family with a token of the posthumous promotion: a new badge with the number 110, in honor of his son Ryan’s birthday.
“He left a lasting impression. And after you met him, everything was different. Everything was better,” Caban said. “Even though he was only with us for a short time, he quickly became one of our best, not just a great cop, but also a bright light to so many.”
Diller was gunned down on March 25, allegedly by 34-year-old Guy Rivera, during the vehicle stop on Mott Avenue; the bullet struck Diller in the abdomen, just below the bulletproof vest he wore.
Nearby surveillance video captured the moment Diller was struck, crying out that he had been hit. Still, according to Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny, he still tried to wrestle the gun out of Rivera’s hands in an attempt to save lives.
Rivera, a man with a long rap sheet, was charged Thursday with murder while his accomplice was charged with criminal possession of a weapon.
Officer Diller’s death sparked a political backlash against recent bail reforms which, police have said, allowed recidivists to walk the streets and commit other crimes. While Donald Trump, the former president, similarly condemned the state’s bail reform while visiting Diller’s wake Thursday, on Friday, Gov. Kathy Hochul was confronted by a mourner after paying her respects.
While eulogizing her husband, Stephanie Diller seemed to take a shot at politicians demanding changes to the criminal justice system, arguing they have put police officers in danger.
“I will grow old without my husband and his parents have to say goodbye to their child. How many of our police officers and our families need to make the ultimate sacrifice before we start protecting them?” Stephanie said.
