Blakeman, Saladino, Trump Attend Funeral of Murdered NYPD Officer
By Mark Demetropoulos
Officer Jonathan Diller of Massapequa Park in Oyster Bay was murdered last week by a career criminal – released under New York’s “no bail” laws – at a routine traffic stop in Far Rockaway.
Officer Diller had a young family – a young wife, Stephanie, and their one-year old son – who now have their lives so tragically torn apart.
Attending Officer Diller's funeral were former President Donald Trump, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, and Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joe Saladino.
Diller had pulled over Gus Rivera in the Far Rockaway section of Queens. Rivera had 21 prior arrests, but was out on the streets under New York’s “no cash bail” laws. Rivera gunned down Officer Diller as he approached his car, killing him.
Blakeman, Trump and Saladino were invited to attend the wake by the Diller family.
New York’s Governor Kathy Hochul (D-Buffalo) and Attorney General Letitia James (D-Bronx) had made requests to attend and speak at the funeral, but were asked not to by the Diller family, due to their support of the bail laws that got Officer Diller killed.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D-Brooklyn), himself a former police officer, did attend the funeral, and speak in support of the Diller family and ending the New York no-bail laws.
“This particular great officer, top of his class — he captured a moment," stated Trump. "The perfect family has been so tragically altered, forever altered.”
“We have to do a lot of things differently because this is not working,” added Trump. “The only thing we can say is maybe something’s going to be learned. We’ve gotta toughen it up and strengthen it up. Things like this shouldn’t take place and take place so often.”
“Our hearts are heavy as we honor the memory of Officer Jonathan Diller, a true hero,” stated Saladino, who had hosted a Candlelight Vigil the night before for the Diller family. “In gathering as a community to join together in mourning, we pay tribute to Officer Diller’s courage and honor his memory…His legacy of service will always be remembered.”