BLUE BRIGADE
Widow, cops at court for arraignment in Diller slay
A ruthless ex-con was arraigned on first-degree murder charges Tuesday in the traffic-stop shooting death of NYPD Detective Jonathan Diller (inset) — as the slain hero’s widow sat in a sea of blue, the tears welling in her eyes.
Guy Rivera, 34, was arraigned in Queens Supreme Court on an indictment charging him with firstand second-degree murder, attempted murder and six counts of criminal possession of a weapon as dozens of New York’s Finest packed the courtroom — standing with the slain cop’s family.
“Justice for Jonathan,” read a sign held by one of mourners.
“I hope that vicious, violent copkiller took a good look at the crowd in that courtroom because he’s going to see us every time he comes to court,” NYPD PBA president
Patrick Hendry told reporters.
“Great husband, great father, just an all-around great family man who loved being a police officer and loves his family,” he added.
Rivera is charged with shooting Diller, 31, during a routine traffic stop in Far Rockaway. Diller, the married father of a 1-year-old son, had gone to check on a suspicious-looking Kia Soul where Rivera was sitting with accused cohort Lindy Jones, who was behind the wheel.
Diller, spotting what looked like a gun in the pocket of Rivera’s sweatshirt, ordered the ex-con out of the car — only to have him open fire.
The bullet struck Diller below his bullet-proof vest. He was rushed to Jamaica Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The slain officer was posthumously promoted to the rank of detective.
“Detective Diller was shot and killed while trying to rid our streets of illegal weapons, a lawless act that was an affront to a civilized society,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said in a statement.
Rivera already had 21 arrests on his rap sheet and had a shiv stashed in his rectum at the time of Diller’s shooting, with cops convinced he and Jones were planning a heist.
Jones, 41, who had at least 14 prior busts, was arrested after the shooting and charged after cops found a second gun in the glove compartment.
At his funeral in Massapequa, LI, on March 30, Stephanie Diller called her slain husband a hero during a moving eulogy — with the couple’s baby son, Ryan, nearby.
“My husband died a hero,” she said. “But he also lived like one. Our world will never be the same, but I know I speak for everyone when I say I could not be more proud of him.”
Hendry reiterated Tuesday that the NYPD will always be there for her, with so many cops at court that they spilled into the hallway.
“This family is going through a living nightmare that no family should have to go through,” the union chief said. “But they have our blue family now, who will be with them every step of the way.”
Both Jones and Rivera are being held without bail. Rivera faces a maximum sentence of life without parole, while Jones could face up to 30 years behind bars.