A family member of slain NYPD Officer Johnathan Diller lashed out at Governor Kathy Hochul during the officer’s wake Friday. The family member accused the governor of having “his blood on your hands,” according to a New York Post source.
Officer Diller, 31, was fatally shot in Queens on Monday evening. The incident has sparked renewed calls for New York to tighten bail reform measures, which many in law enforcement blame for repeat crimes. Both suspects in the incident have long lists of past criminal offenses and were previously in prison.
The family member reportedly told Gov. Hochul, “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.”
Gov. Hochul, however, while speaking at an Easter event, said that she had no remorse over her decision to attend the wake.
“I would do it again, and that’s my job,” she said, according to Politico. “If they need to talk to me, and they all needed to talk to me, my job is to listen.”
“Understandably there’s anger about how these individuals could commit crimes over and over and are back out on the street again.”
Steve Gruber@stevegrubershow
NY Gov. Kathy Hochul was asked leave the wake of fallen NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller just minutes after arriving on Friday afternoon.
Several cops waiting outside the funeral home then clapped as she walked away.
Video Credit: @FoxNews pic.twitter.com/D2x1gRPoWA
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) April 1, 2024
The governor and Attorney General Letitia James were both denied their requests to speak at the Saturday morning service.
Former Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY), according to Fox News, called the governor and attorney general’s requests to speak at the service “out of touch and disrespectful,” continuing, “it’s about them when you make that kind of request. It really should be about the family.”
Officer Diller was fatally shot during a routine traffic stop. The assailant, identified as Guy Rivera, began shooting at Diller when the officer approached Rivera’s vehicle, which was parked illegally in front of a bus stop. A bullet struck Diller once in the stomach, below his bulletproof vest.
Diller, a married man and father to a one-year-old child, was quickly transported to Jamaica Hospital, where he was declared dead.
Diller’s partner returned fire, injuring Rivera in the process. Rivera has a history of 21 previous arrests.
Stephanie Diller, the widow of slain NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller, in a tearful eulogy ripped into New York law makers who pushed through bail reform that let his killer, Guy Rivera, walk the streets despite 21 prior arrests:
“How many more police officers and how many more… pic.twitter.com/GNupWCBcYr
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) March 30, 2024
WOW — Look at the turnout Of New York police officers for slain NYPD detective Jonathan Diller’s funeral.
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) March 30, 2024
