By The newspaper
Mar 30, 2024, 3:22 PM EDT
Jonathan Diller, an NYPD officer who was shot and killed at age 31 during a simple traffic stop in Queens, was promoted to Detective today, Holy Saturday, during his funeral in Massapequa, Long Island.
In parallel, his family has received more than $2 million dollars in various donations and the amount continues to rise. The money has been contributed by organizations and individuals, including a GoFundMe page that currently exceeds $808,000. Additionally, The Tunnel to Towers Foundation, started by the family of firefighter Stephen Siller who died on 9/11, promised to cover the mortgage on Diller’s home in Massapequa Park.
“My husband died as a hero, but he also lived as one,” widow Stephanie Diller said today at the funeral ceremony, quoted by New YorkPost. The funeral can be seen at this link ABC News.
Before being buried, Diller received the promotion at Saint Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Massapequa. Police Commissioner Edward Cabán and Mayor Eric Adams -former NYPD-, among others, honored the fallen officer in front of his family, including his one-year-old baby Ryan, now fatherless and whose birthday is today.
“My husband died as a hero, but he also lived as one.”
Two suspects were arrested for the Monday afternoon shooting, both with extensive police records: the alleged gunman Guy Rivera (34) and Lindy Jones (41), who was behind the wheel of the car that was parked illegally at a nearby bus stop. from the 101st Precinct police station, a lack that caused Diller to approach them.
Rivera, who had a record of 21 arrests, was shot by Diller’s colleague and according to the NYPD he was in possession of two weapons when he was arrested. He was released from prison in 2021 after serving nearly five years for criminal sale of a controlled substance, according to Department of Corrections records. He had previously been imprisoned for assault in 2011 and was released in 2014.
Jones, who was unharmed on Monday, had been charged with weapons possession in April 2023 and previously served more than nine years in prison for attempted murder and robbery, before regaining his freedom in 2012.
Diller’s death has revived criticism of New York’s judicial system, which is apparently why Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul was asked to leave yesterday when she attended the funeral on Long Island. On the other hand, on Thursday the controversial former Republican president Donald Trump was well received.
Since Wednesday, the NYPD Sergeants Benevolent Association (SBA) – the 2nd largest police union in NYC and the 5th nationally – had warned that politicians with “anti-police” speeches should stay away from funerals and burial events. by Diller.
“You are as morally responsible for the death of Officer Diller as the career criminal who pulled the trigger,” the SBA said in a scathing letter, referring to ex-convict Rivera.
State penal reform activated in 2020 has since been linked to impunity and a rise in crime, according to NYPD leaders and other critics.
All charges are mere accusations and those charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.