Subway
Former President Donald Trump is set to join the sea of blue honoring slain NYPD officer Jonathan Diller in Long Island on Thursday, officials confirmed.
“President Trump is thrilled to be invited to join the family and colleagues of NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller as they deal with his senseless and tragic death,” Caroline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for the former commander’s campaign, said in a statement Wednesday.
Diller, a 31-year-old family man, was on patrol in Far Rockaway on Monday when he was shot and fatally wounded by a ruthless ex-con and his career friend, according to police.
In an exclusive interview with The Post’s Michael Goodwin earlier this month, Trump blamed the “radical lunatic left” for the ruin of America’s cities.
“Local police are no longer allowed to do their jobs,” Trump said from Mar-a-Lago.
He also said Democratic-run cities were “being destroyed by migrants” — who are behind high-profile crime sprees, including in New York.
“If you want to be a sanctuary city, then you’re not going to get any federal money,” he said.
In just three years on the job, Diller had more than 70 busts under his belt and was part of what relatives called the “True Blue Blood Family,” a reference to the hit CBS series about a family of Big Apple cops.
Both his brother-in-law and his cousin are police officers.
“John, there are no words to describe how devastated we are that you are gone,” his son-in-law, Jonathan McAuley, wrote in a moving online tribute this week.
“You were a good man and a great father whose shoes can never be replaced,” McAuley said. “I swear to you that I will take care of your son as if I were my own.”
Diller leaves behind a wife, Stephanie, and a 1-year-old son, Ryan.
Visitation with Diller’s family will be held at the Massapequa Funeral Home at 4980 Merrick Road between 2:00 and 7:00 and 7:00 pm on Thursday, followed by the same time on Friday.
The officer’s funeral is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Rose of Lima Church, also in Massapequa.
Diller will be buried at St. Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale immediately following the service.
What you need to know about the fatal shooting of NYPD officer Jonathan Diller:
Police said Guy Rivera, who had 21 previous arrests, shot Diller in the stomach about 5:50 p.m. when the young cop approached the vehicle he was sitting in at a bus stop — and may have planned to be armed robbery
Other officers at the scene returned fire, wounding Rivera, who was a passenger in the car, and arrested the driver, Lindy Jones, who is also in state prison.
Load more…
{{#isDisplay}}
{{/isDisplay}}{{#isAniviewVideo}}
{{/isAniviewVideo}}{{#isSRVideo}}
{{/isSRVideo}}