Transcript: Mayor Adams, Police Commissioner Caban Deliver Remarks at Funeral Service for Fallen NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller

March 30, 2024

Mayor Eric Adams: I recall walking into the hospital and being told by my detail that how close to home this was. Jennifer, who has been with my detail for some time, from the day I was elected. It was this natural friendship that we've developed. And my team told me it was her cousin.

And as I walked into the room and saw Stephanie and the family, it was just so overwhelming. And I knew I had to stay there for a while, but I just couldn't. I needed to find a space inside the hospital that I could just sit down and reflect for a moment.

We often look at this role and you see the professional part of it being a mayor, but there's a humanistic part of it. There's a part that when you have to go tell a wife with a newborn child, when you try to explain the doctor's massaging the heart to get the heartbeat back, when you're trying to just make sensibility of losing a young man at this level.

This morning when I got up and did my prayers, and I got on my knees, I asked for some way of articulating to Stephanie how much this city loves your husband. And words is just not possible. It's not much I can say to take away this loss and what it means and what it means to all of us.

And just the similarities as I reflected on the sacrifice that Jesus made, what it means to give your life to your family. Thought about John 15:13, greater love has no one than this, that a man laid down his life for his friends.

But I also thought about Jessica, Kevin, Jonathan, Jennifer, members of the law enforcement community, those four members of this family that decided to adorn the uniform to protect the people of this city. And then I have drawn on my personal life, Bernard, David, Corey, Jean, my family members who also joined the law enforcement community.

But I couldn't help to think about what it meant to Jennifer and Jason, Jason to lose a younger brother. Bernard means everything to me. I think about him all the time. And every day that he wore that uniform and he was a sergeant, I wanted him to come home safely.

And who, what big sisters do? My sister taught me everything I knew. She was the big sister for us. Even when mommy had to go to work, Sandra would take the five of us and taught us the basic things that we needed.

And when I think about Fran and what it was like for Mary to be at the cross and watch her son sacrifice, such a biblical moment, it's such a cavalry moment of the commitment that a mother gives. And Steven watching his son. Nothing is more unnatural than a parent burying their child. Such a battle, such a painful moment. And we have to dig deep to find purpose through this pain.

So, today we mourn the tragic death of one of our own, Police Officer Jonathan Diller, the husband, to Stephanie, the father, to young Ryan, hero to all New Yorkers and all Americans.

The outpouring of grief for this young man is real and it is raw. When you see the photos of him with his wife and young son, our hearts break. And I hear over and over in my ears, I've been shot, I've been shot, I've been shot. And even with the acknowledgement that he was shot, he fought and took the gun out of the hand of the person who would take his life.

He ran towards danger, taking risks, making arrests and undoubtedly saving lives. Him and that team of younger men who are part of the CRT team, they went out every night to assist in removing thousands of guns off our streets. In just three years on the force, he was decorated three times for excellent police duty.

And despite all of those interactions with bad people doing bad things to good people, he adorned that uniform to go out and continue to fight on behalf of the people of this city. So, today we mourn his life, we reflect on his bravery, we remember his sacrifice, and above all, we stand together united as one.

Those of us who have put on the uniform now and know it could be one of us at any time. We are bound by the oath in our honor to stand together and salute his service as we commend his spirit. The powerful feeling will carry us forward, will give us the strength to continue to fight for justice, protect and defend our city and provide love and support to Jonathan's family going forward.

Let's pray for Officer Diller. Let's pray for his family, let's pray for his friends, let's pray for his mother and father, Fran and Steven. Let's pray for his sister Jennifer and his brother Jason. They are part of our family. We must make sure they get the love and nurturing that all family members receive.

And we will comfort you today, and we will be with you throughout this lifetime. And I stand with you during these difficult times as the mayor of this city. And to Officer Diller's second family, the men and women of the New York City Police Department, we say goodbye to Jonathan, your brother. But we also say thank you to each and every one of you. It is harder today to be a police officer, more difficult than the times that I wore the uniform. You are inundated every day with those who are loud but they're not the majority.

New Yorkers admire you and love you and support you, and don't let anyone make you believe that the numerical majority stands for what this city stands for. This is a city of law and order, not disorder. And I believe we will continue to move our city in the right direction with your sacrifices that you play every day.

Sometimes it's feeling like our society does not appreciate that, but they do. And today, on the saddest days, I want Jonathan's family to know, I want all the families of all our police officers to know, your mayor stands with you. I am you. I know what it is to adorn that bulletproof vest and stand on street corners and protect the children and families of this city. And we will continue to do so even in the midst of this pain.

And as the elected representative of this city, I can tell you without question that the vast majority of New Yorkers share our vision. We mourn Jonathan's death. We'll never forget his sacrifice. And we will do everything in our power to ensure that all New Yorkers and police officers live in the safest big city in America.

We're going to make sure you have what you need to do your job, including making sure that violent career criminals are held accountable for their crimes and doing all we can to end gun violence in this city. That's what Jonathan was committed to doing and that is what we will continue to do.

So, today is a somber day. It's Easter Saturday, the day we mourn the death of Jesus and remember the despair of his family and followers before the day of his glorious resurrection. Scripture continues to tell us, let's lean into the commitment and the dedication of our faith.

My heart goes out to you, the members of the law enforcement community in general, but specifically, to the family. I feel your pain. I wish my words in some way, bring some level of comfort.

And when I left that hospital and I sat in that Jeep and just thought about this young man taken from us in a senseless act of violence. I've thought about all of those moments of going into hospital rooms, seeing family members and loved ones who lost their loved ones to violence.

Yesterday when I got rebaptized, I wanted to recommit myself not only to my faith, but to the city of this great City of New York. And I ask you to please join us as we turn this painful moment into a purposeful moment and continue to pray and lift each other up during this time.

May God bless you. May God bless our city. May God bless our country. May God bless the men and women of the New York City Police Department. Thank you.

Police Commissioner Edward Caban: To the gracious people of the town of Massapequa, to Father Duffy, Father Gentlemen, assembled clergy and the entire St. Rose of Lima family, thank you for your warmth and for welcoming us into your community.

Mayor Adams, thank you for being here. To Fran and Steven, Jennifer and Jason, Stephanie and little Ryan, to extended family and friends, to police officers across our city, around our country and every person mourning with us today, on behalf of the entire New York City Police Department, I extend to you our deepest and most sincere condolences.

There is nothing that can truly prepare us for moments like this. As police officers and as the people who love those officers, we understand that days like today are possible. We live that reality, knowing everything is always at stake. But when that day does come, no matter what we think we know, suddenly, we are lost.

For everyone who knew and loved Police Officer Jonathan Diller, March 25th, 2024, was that day. And now we are here burying another one of our city's heroes here again. Far too many times, we are in darkness searching for answers to impossible questions, and the actual pain we feel is so much worse than anything we could have imagined.

But even under the weight of that relentless grief, there is one thing that can lift that veil and lead us out of the shadows. And it's right outside the doors of this church. I'm talking about the line, the line of men and women in blue who stand straight and tall against any hardship, any threat and any fear.

It's a line that stretches back 180 years from Tottenville to Floral Park to Wakefield to the Rockaways and through the hearts of millions of people around the world. It's been tried and tested, but it has never wavered. It stands behind us when we need courage, it stands beside us when we need support and it stands in front of us when we need protection.

And through all things, the line runs unbroken; and today, it stands here for all of us and upholds the legacy of our fallen hero. His given name was Jonathan. His immediate family called him that, but much to his mother's dismay, many called him John. But no matter the name, he was always the same guy, a caring person who loved the people in his life with everything he had.

In the years following John's graduation from the Maritime Academy, Stephanie became the center of that love. In his eyes, she could do no wrong and she felt the same way, except for maybe the mustache. While deployed at sea during school, Jon grew it out, way out, and she hated it. The whole family did. But thankfully, his signature beard grew back.

But these two were soulmates, drawn to each other for so many wonderful reasons. Both families were deeply rooted in service. Jon's grandfather was a fireman. His two cousins, Jessica and Kevin, are both members of the NYPD. Stephanie's brother, Jonathan, along with her cousin Jennifer, are also on the job, and Stephanie herself serves on the frontline as a nurse. For all these amazing people, service is the family business.

And also, when word came that Jonathan would join the NYPD, it wasn't entirely a surprise for those who knew him best, however, it was slightly ironic. The jokester who was never much for the rules would now be the one who defended them, and how fortunate for the NYPD he did.

John was 28 when he entered the academy, so he had done some living by that point, and he brought both his life experience and his big personality to his 50,000 new brothers and sisters.

When you talk to the cops who work with John, they'll tell you there was a time in their career before they'd worked with him and then there was everything that came after. He was special. He left a lasting impression. And after you met him, everything was different. Everything was better.

As part of the Community Response Team, we sent John out to restore order, to fight against lawlessness. We told him to go out there and make this city a better place to live, to work and to raise a family. And that's exactly what he did. In just three years, he made dozens upon dozens of arrests, the majority being felonies. When he had a good arrest, he would text Stephanie, often with a bunch of smiling emojis.

He loved this work and he was darned good at it. And in what would become his final arrest made just days before he was shot and killed, John took a loaded gun off our streets. He was literally doing the work that we asked him to do, that we needed him to do, and he was making a real difference.

He went toward the danger. He put himself in harm's way and he did it so that other New Yorkers wouldn't have to. He did it because he was a New York City police officer. And even though he was only with us for a short time, he quickly became one of our best, not just a great cop, but also a bright light to so many.

But in an instant, in a sudden and senses act of violence, he was gone, murdered by a career criminal with absolutely no regard for human life, who carried an illegal gun and thought nothing of pulling the trigger, murdered while protecting the people of our city. And even after he was mortally wounded, John kept fighting. He wrestled the gun out of the shooter's hand, saving lives until the very end.

And now, as we reflect on John's remarkable life and pay tribute to his sacrifice, here stands the line. But they don't stand alone. The eyes of the world are once again on the New York City Police Department, is another reminder that we are all connected and we are all here for Jonathan.

So, in this awful moment, as we struggle to make sense of our sorrow, our memories of John give us strength, because we know that his death will never be his legacy.

His grit, his devotion, his love, the best of him that carries on through all of us, that is his legacy. Over time, we will honor John in many different ways for the hero he was, for the life he lived and uphold almost solemn vow to never forget that eternal recognition begins today as I am honored and privileged to promote Police Officer Jonathan Diller to Detective First Grade.

His new shield number is 110, his son's birthday. It's fitting because more than anything, more than being a husband, a son, a brother, an NYPD cop, what John loved most in life was being Ryan's dad.
Stephanie, I've gotten to know you over these past few days, and your strength is an inspiration to all of us. But right now, despite the tens of thousands of people here to support you, you probably feel more alone than ever. But I need you to know you will never be alone again.

And I'm not just talking about the line outside. Of course, they will always be with you. They will always be there to protect you as John did. But John will be there, too. I promise you, he won't miss a moment.

On Ryan's first day of school, John will be there. When he picks up a lacrosse stick or goes to an Islanders game, John will be there. When he brings home his first report card and it says, Ryan is just like his dad, John will be there. And as Ryan becomes his own man showing the world what a remarkable person he is, John will be there. And in your quiet moments when you are left with thoughts about everything that could have been, remember John was there always.

Stephanie, you told me your husband would often turn to you and simply said thank you for his son, for making him a dad. Today I say thank you to you and Ryan, thank you for sharing John with us. We are all better because of him.

May God bless Detective First Grade Jonathan Diller. God bless his loved ones and keep them in your prayers, and as always, God bless the New York City Police Department. We are the line and we stand with you forever. Thank you.