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    NYPD widow Stephanie Diller doubles down on eulogy calling for politicians to protect all officers

    By Tina Moore,

    17 days ago

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1bHPrj_0u8l7Ee700

    It’s been four months since NYPD widow Stephanie Diller gave a heart-wrenching and forceful tribute at her slain husband Jonathan’s funeral, pleading with politicians to do more to protect police officers.

    “In my eulogy I asked how many officers have to die before we start protecting them,” she told The Post this week in her first interview. “And I still stand by that and I spoke that because I felt like that’s what Jonathan would say if he was here.”

    “I just spoke from my heart,” she added.

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=33IFuP_0u8l7Ee700
    NYPD widow Stephanie Diller gave a stirring tribute at her slain husband’s wake. NYPD
    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2mETzx_0u8l7Ee700
    Police officers gather for the funeral of NYPD officer Jonathan Diller at St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church on Saturday, March 30, 2024, in Massapequa, N.Y. James Keivom

    But little has changed since the young dad’s March 25 on-duty death.

    Widow of slain NYPD cop Jonathan Diller reveals family’s final day together, her worries for their son

    Jonathan Diller had strong feelings about New York’s revolving-door criminal justice system, which has seen suspects — like the ones accused of killing him — repeatedly set free to wreak havoc, his widow said.

    “These career criminals shouldn’t be out on the street and the way that laws are set up right now, while I understand the reasons some of them are in place, they embolden criminals because there are no consequences,” Stephanie Diller said.

    In her tribute, Diller recalled the 2022 murders of Detective Jason Rivera and Detective Wilbert Mora , who were killed during a domestic violence call in Harlem, and Jonathan’s eerie reaction.

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=09EhOR_0u8l7Ee700
    The scene where Officer Jonathan Diller was shot in the stomach after approaching a suspicious vehicle on March 25 in Far Rockaway, Queens, while working with the NYPD’s Critical Response Team. Wayne Carrington
    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4FeJb6_0u8l7Ee700
    Lindy Jones appears in Queens Criminal Court on June 12, 2024. Jones, whose passenger Guy Rivera allegedly shot and killed PO Jonathan Diller, has been charged illegal weapons charges. James Messerschmidt

    Widow of slain NYPD cop Jonathan Diller cries after career criminal Guy Rivera charged with first-degree murder

    “Specifically, I remember Jonathan coming home to me and saying he was upset,” she told The Post. “He said, ‘I don’t want this to ever happen to you.’ He was heartbroken over it.”

    Diller’s death spurred renewed calls for Albany to revise bail reform, which many in law enforcement blame for recidivist crimes.

    Former President Donald Trump made headlines when he attended the police officer’s Massapequa Park wake , called for “law and order,” and blasted President Biden for not attending.

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3Qf7ZN_0u8l7Ee700
    Guy Rivera has been charged with murder in Jonathan Diller’s shooting death. Brigitte Stelzer

    And a family member was seen at the service yelling at Gov. Hochul that she had “blood on her hands ” over Diller’s death, police sources said at the time.

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    “He said, ‘We don’t want you here. You’re not wanted here. You have blood on your hands. If you want to do something, change the bail laws,’” the source said of the emotional exchange.

    Both men charged in the Diller killing, accused gunman Guy Rivera and his alleged driver Lindy Jones, have long rap sheets.

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2E9xyQ_0u8l7Ee700
    Gov. Kathy Hochul attended the wake for slain NYPD officer Jonathan Diller. AP

    “Jonathan was a cop’s cop,” she added. “He wanted to clean the city up. He wanted to do good things for people. He wanted to help innocent people. He was good-hearted. He was the perfect person to be a cop. … He didn’t have a bad bone in his body,” said the widow, who refused to discuss politics.

    Instead she focused on the humanity of the men and women in blue.

    Police officers are “husbands and mothers and fathers, sons and daughters,” she said.

    “I never thought that’s the last time I’d be kissing him goodbye,” she continued. “I don’t want anyone else to be in my shoes and I know that’s how Jonathan felt.”

    For the latest metro stories, top headlines, breaking news and more, visit nypost.com/metro/

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