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Police and Law Enforcement

Wife of slain NYPD officer Jonathan Diller delivers

emotional eulogy as thousands attend funeral
Diller was posthumously promoted to detective and given a badge number honoring his young son
By Timothy H.J. Nerozzi Fox News

Published March 30, 2024 2:19pm EDT

A guard of honor for NYPD officer Jonathan Diller

Family and fellow NYPD Brass honor the fallen officer as his body leaves Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. (Peter Gerber)

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Family, friends, and a sea of blue uniforms gathered for the funeral of slain New York
Police Department officer Jonathan Diller on Saturday.

Mourners filled St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church and crowded the areas outside as a
funeral mass was celebrated for the 31-year-old officer.

Diller’s widow Stephanie Diller, received a standing ovation when she approached the
,

church lectern to deliver her remarks. Fighting back tears, Stephanie Diller thanked the
public for the outpouring of support following her husband's death.

"Iam so proud that thousands of people across the country are calling Johnathan a hero,
but the truth is that he's always been a hero to Ryan and me," she said. "The rest of the
world is just catching up."

She also demanded change.

"How many more police officers and how many more families have to make the ultimate
sacrifice before we start protecting them?" Stephanie questioned. She later closed her
eulogy, saying, "When the gates of Heaven open for me, I hope I will see Jonathan
standing there, looking at me like he did on our wedding day. Rest in peace, Jonathan
Diller, the man who captured my heart and now all of New York’s."

NYPD JONATHAN DILLER SHOOTING: SUSPECT GUY RIVERA CHARGED WITH MURDER,
ATTEMPTED MURDER IN ATTACK ON OFFICERS

NYPD pallbearers carry the casket of NYPD officer Jonathan Diller at his funeral at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in
Massapequa, New York. ((Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images))

New York City Mayor Eric Adams also commended Diller as a hero during his remarks at
the service, recalling the final moments of the officer's life.

"Even after he had been shot […] he fought, and took the gun away from the person who
would take his life," Adams recounted.

The mayor vowed to ensure the city would be made more safe, saying "making sure that
violent career criminals are held accountable for their crimes, and doing all we can to end
gun violence in this city."

NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban announced that Diller had been posthumously
promoted to detective — with a badge number to honor his son Ryan.

"His new badge number is 110, his son’s birthday," Caban explained. "What Diller loved
most was being Ryan’s dad."

METS PAY TRIBUTE TO SLAIN NYPD OFFICER JONATHAN DILLER ON OPENING DAY

The hearse carrying the casket of NYPD officer Jonathan Diller arrives for his funeral in Massapequa, New York. (Michael
M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Patrick Hendry, president of the Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York ,

struggled to keep from crying as he spoke out against the two suspects accused of
shooting Diller during a traffic stop and commended the NYPD's "hero."

NY GOV. KATHY HOCHUL LEAVES NYPD OFFICER JONATHAN DILLER’S WAKE

ABRUPTLY AFTER 10 MINUTES; BYSTANDERS CLAP

Diller's coffin was carried out of the church as the hymn "Lift High the Cross" was played
and sung by attendees.

Diller was fatally shot on Monday during a traffic stop in Queens after a man with 21 prior
arrests allegedly shot him in the stomach as Diller was trying to make the suspect — Guy
Rivera, 34 — exit the vehicle.

Rivera reportedly opened fire on Diller and his partner at about 5:45 p.m. The officers had
approached the vehicle because it had been illegally parked at a bus stop.

NYPD pallbearers carry the casket of NYPD officer Jonathan Diller as a priest blesses it with holy water. ((Photo by Michael
M. Santiago/Getty Images))

Another man who was in the vehicle at the time of Diller's death, Lindy Jones, was also
charged following the death, including for criminal possession of a weapon and defacing a
weapon.

Former President Donald Trump attended the wake on Thursday afternoon.

The Archdiocese of New York's Cardinal Timothy Dolan also attended the wake and
offered condolences to the family and police department.

The following day, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul appeared at his wake briefly before leaving
after speaking with a man outside the funeral home.

Timothy Nerozzi is a writer for Fox News Digital. You can follow him on Twitter @timothynerozzi and
can email him at timothy.nerozzi@fox.com

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