At St. Patrick's Easter sermon, Cardinal Dolan memorializes NYPD's Jonathan Diller

Cardinal Timothy Dolan likened the killing of the NYPD’s Jonathan Diller to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, saying both men had sacrificed their lives for others, but that the message of Easter provides hope even in dark times.

Delivering an Easter homily at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dolan said that similar to what the faithful believe happened in the aftermath of the crucifixion of Jesus, Diller’s wife, Stephanie, toddler son, Ryan, their family, friends and other police personnel were left mourning “at the foot at that cross as this city went dark and these pavements trembled as he was buried” on Long Island.

“Last Monday, Officer Jonathan Diller, a good, decent, innocent, loyal, honorable man, who believed — get this — that the lives of those he was sworn to protect were worth even more than his own, he died in the line of duty,” said Dolan, the archbishop of New York.

Diller, of Massapequa Park, was fatally shot in Far Rockaway, Queens, last Monday evening during a confrontation with the occupants of a vehicle illegally parked in a bus lane.

Authorities said Diller was shot by one of the occupants whose door the officer was trying to force open. The cause of death was “a penetrating gunshot wound of the abdomen, with injuries of his left common iliac vessels,” said Dr. Alex Williamson, of the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner, as cited by prosecutors in charging documents.

A day earlier, Diller was memorialized at a funeral service attended by thousands inside and outside St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church in Massapequa, with burial at St. Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale.

In a eulogy, NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban posthumously promoted Diller to detective first grade, as is typical for police officers who die in the line of duty. The designation increases the benefits his family will receive.

Over the circumstances, Dolan said in his sermon, "hovers Easter Sunday. As we mourn Jonathan, there were still in the midst of that, embraces of love and support, tender concern for Stephanie and Ryan, smiles and stories as Officer Diller was remembered, renewed solidarity and commitment within our NYPD, assurances one to another that we’ll get through this. We’ve been through it before. God’ll provide.”

By Matthew Chayes

matthew.chayes@newsday.comchayesmatthew

Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.