A remembrance and candlelight vigil was held this past Tuesday evening, May 14, honoring fallen Detective Jonathan Diller, at the headquarters of Patrol Borough Queens South located at the 107 Precinct in Kew Gardens Hills. Queens Shmira member Patrick Zagdanski and Israel Peskowitz, Director of Government Affairs for Chazaq, attended.
Diller, 31, was a decorated officer and member of the Community Response Team for the New York City Police Department. He was killed on March 25 in Far Rockaway, following a routine police stop at 6 p.m. for an SUV blocking a bus lane. Diller and his partner were investigating an illegally-parked Kia when a passenger in the car, Guy Rivera, 34, shot Diller below his ballistic vest. Diller’s partner returned fire, wounding Rivera. Diller, wounded, also fought back and disarmed Rivera, who was arraigned on an indictment charging him of first- and second-degree murder, and second-degree attempted murder for attempting to fire at Diller’s partner. Rivera had 21 prior arrests, nine for felonies including a 2021 parole release after a half-decade in prison for selling drugs; earlier, he served three years for assault.
Rivera’s associate, Lindy Jones, 41, the driver, released from prison in 2013, had at least 14 arrests, including for robbery and assault, and spent a decade in prison for attempted murder and robbery. He was most recently arrested last April for walking around Far Rockaway with a loaded illegal gun. Jones is charged with weapons offenses. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz remains deeply involved in this case. It is believed that the duo were actively casing nearby stores or passersby for fresh crimes at the time of the shooting. Arrestees commit another felony within 60 days, an increase from 8 percent in 2017 to 25 percent by 2022, and there has been a 20 percent rise in assaults on officers over the past 14 months, including a 72 percent rise in officer stabbings, according to release data.
Diller was the first NYPD officer killed in the line of duty in two years. His memorial services drew thousands of visitors, including former President Donald Trump, Governor Kathy Hochul, and Mayor Eric Adams. Diller, known to never sugarcoat anything, lived on Long Island, where he was a dedicated father to 1-year-old son Ryan, and husband to Stephanie.
Fidelis Ad Mortem.
By Shabsie Saphirstein
Photo credit: Israel Peskowitz and others
