A family member of slain NYPD officer Jonathan Diller ripped Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul to her face and told her that her presence was unwelcome at the Friday wake for the fallen officer, a source told The New York Post.
A video of an exchange between Hochul and a man attending Diller’s wake was posted to social media and showed the man getting animated while he talked with the governor. Hochul and her team got back into an SUV and left the wake after the exchange.
WATCH:
NY Gov. Kathy Hochul Gets Round of Applause — for Leaving Slain NYPD Officer Diller's Funeral
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul quickly wore out her welcome at slain NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller's funeral as her photo-op went horribly awry.
NYPD make it clear that her presence was… pic.twitter.com/0y7ez3LSmS
— Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) March 29, 2024
The source told the Post that a family member of Diller “was going crazy” on Hochul, telling her, “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.” CBS New York also reported that Hochul’s appearance was received poorly by Diller’s family members, who slammed her record on criminal justice policy.
Diller, a husband and father who had served three years on the force, was shot in the stomach while making a traffic stop Monday evening in Queens. The suspect in the shooting was identified as 34-year-old Guy Rivera, who was sitting in the passenger seat of the car pulled over by Diller when he allegedly pulled out a handgun and fired at the officer. Rivera has 21 prior arrests and was released from prison in 2021 after serving five years for criminal possession of a controlled substance, according to the Post. He was also in prison from 2011 to 2014 for first-degree assault.
The officer’s widow, who has a 1-year-old son with Diller, also reportedly had a sharp exchange with Hochul.
“[It looked] like she was telling [Hochul] off,” one witness told the New York Post. “It didn’t look like the widow had a kind word to say.”
Another witness told the Post that the governor and the young widow had a “short, respectful conversation” during the roughly 10 to 15 minutes Hochul was inside. More bystanders said the governor and the widow discussed “policy” during their brief encounter.
On Saturday, Hochul said that flags would be flown at half-staff at all state buildings in honor of the fallen officer.
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“His heroism and dedication to protecting New Yorkers will never be forgotten. Our prayers are with his family, loved ones, and the NYPD as they grieve this senseless loss,” Hochul wrote in a post on X.
Former President Donald Trump also attended the wake for Diller, and a photo of Trump embracing Diller’s widow was posted to social media by Diller’s brother-in-law. Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social earlier this week that the suspect in Diller’s death “NEVER should have been let back out on the streets.”
“To Officer Diller’s family, and all of the other brave men and women of law enforcement who put your lives on the line every day, we love you, we appreciate you, and we will always stand with you!” Trump said.
In her eulogy at her husband’s funeral on Saturday, Diller’s widow called his death “devastating” and “senseless” and demanded change, according to the Post.
Tim Pearce contributed to this report.