Slain police officer Jonathan Diller is being mourned at a funeral attended by thousands of officers from across the country.
The NYPD officer was shot Monday in Far Rockaway, near JFK Airport, allegedly by career criminal Guy Rivera.
Diller, 31, will receive a police funeral at St Rose of Lima RC Church in Massapequa, Long Island, which began at 10:30 a.m. today.
Once the Catholic funeral service is over, Diller’s casket will be covered with the green and white NYPD flag and carried out of the church by uniformed pallbearers.
Diller, 31, was a New York Police Department officer who was reportedly shot and killed Monday night by suspect Guy Rivera, 34,
Thousands of police officers from across the country line the streets for Diller’s funeral procession
They place him in the back of a hearse, fold the flag into a triangle and hand him to Diller’s widow Stephanie Diller.
Hundreds of police motorcycles will lead a funeral procession through the streets to the cemetery where Diller’s body will be buried.
A police bagpipe troop will play as the hearse begins to leave the church, accompanied by drums draped in purple and black funeral cloth.
Thousands of police will line the street and salute as the hearse passes.
Diller’s body lay at a funeral home as mourners came to pay their respects, including former President Donald Trump and New York Governor Kathy Hochul.
Trump sent a large bouquet of hydrangeas and red roses to the church, with a note that read: “Thank you to Officer Diller for his service. Our prayers are with your family at this time.”
Diller with his widow Stephanie Diller, who will receive a ceremonial flag after the funeral
Hundreds of police officers outside the St Rose of Lima RC Church in Massapequa, on Long Island, as many others line the street the hearse will take
Police officers stood at attention outside the church as the funeral began
New York Mayor Eric Adams, a former NYPD captain, will speak at the funeral and former Mayor Rudy Giuliani arrived early to attend the service.
Former NYPD Commissioners Bernard Kerik and Keechant Sewell are also in attendance, with Amazing Grace playing before the service.
Michael Duffy, the priest who led the service, married Diller and Stephanie in 2019 at Our Lady of Lourdes in New York City.
They have a one-year-old son who is attending the funeral. Stephanie’s brother, cousin and another family member will be at the front of the funeral march.
Diller graduated from the State University of New York Maritime College in 2014 with a degree in maritime transportation and subsequently joined the NYPD in February 2021.
Since joining the force, he has been recognized three times for his ‘outstanding police duties’.
Michael Duffy, the priest leading the service, married Diller and Stephanie at Our Lady of Lourdes in New York City in 2019 (photo)
Officer Diller, the father of a one-year-old boy, was reportedly shot and killed by Rivera during a traffic stop on Monday evening
Diller’s funeral has been ruthlessly politicized, especially by Republicans who used it as an opportunity to accuse Democrats of being soft on crime.
Trump attended the officer’s wake, where he slammed Joe Biden for not attending the wake even though he was only half an hour away.
He also accused his Democratic rival of not supporting police because his liberal supporters “wouldn’t let him.”
Diller was shot after approaching a car illegally parked in a bus lane on Monday shortly before 6 p.m.
After Rivera refused to roll down his window or show his hands, he allegedly opened fire on Diller, hitting the young officer under his bulletproof vest.
After Diller’s partner returned fire, both Rivera and Diller were rushed to the hospital. The officer was later pronounced dead and Rivera was in stable condition.
Lindy Jones, who was driving the car next to Rivera, was charged with possession of a weapon and possession of a defaced firearm.
Prosecutors said a search warrant was served on the vehicle where the shooting occurred, uncovering a second firearm.
He was held without bail as officials cited Jones’ history of skipping court dates in the past.
Hundreds of officers also lined the streets as Diller’s body was taken to the Massapequa Funeral Home on Wednesday.
Officers gathered for Diller’s second vigil in Massapequa Park on Friday
Jones — who has a history of 14 arrests, including a 10-year prison sentence for attempted murder from 2003 — has declined to speak to detectives since his arrest Tuesday evening.
Investigators believe Jones and Rivera had investigated a T-Mobile store before the shooting.
Horrifying surveillance footage captured the moment the young NYPD officer writhed in pain on the streets of New York after being shot.
Three loud gunshots are heard as bystanders flee for safety.
Despite being shot, Diller moved the gun away from the shooter after it fell to the ground, NYPD Chief Joseph Kenny said at a news conference.
After Rivera’s arrest, it emerged that he has a lengthy criminal history, including first-degree robbery, illegal possession of weapons and assault.
He had 21 previous arrests and previously served five years in prison on drug charges before being released on parole in 2021.
Suspect Guy Rivera was shot at the scene by Officer Diller’s colleague and taken to the hospital, had 21 prior arrests and previously served five years in prison on drug charges before being released on parole in 2021.
Officials say Jones was behind the wheel of a car illegally parked in a bus lane, causing Diller and his partner to approach them shortly before 6 p.m. Monday. Pictured: Jones was seen walking past Diller’s photo as he left the 101 precinct on Wednesday
Hundreds of NYPD officers descended on the Queens courthouse on Wednesday to attend Jones’ arraignment
He also served time from 2011 to 2014 on a first-degree assault charge.
Jones had previously had 14 arrests, including a conviction for attempted murder and robbery in 2003, which saw him serve 10 years behind bars.
He was arrested last April on firearms charges but was released on $75,000 bail, which would bring him back to court on Monday.
Following Jones’ arrest in April, in which he was caught with a loaded firearm, Mayor Adams said he was a prime example of a “recidivism problem” – that is, a small number of offenders committing a large number of crimes.
“The same bad people do bad things to good people,” Adams added.