Wake continues today for fallen NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller in Massapequa Park

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday briefly attended the second day of the wake for fallen NYPD Officer Jonathan E. Diller at a Massapequa Park funeral home, but was confronted by a mourner as she departed.

Hochul met with the family of Diller, 31, of Massapequa Park, and had a “brief, respectful conversation” inside the funeral home, officials who witnessed the exchange told Newsday. She left after about 10 minutes and was confronted by a man just outside the funeral home. The identify of the man was not clear, but officials said he was not a member of the Diller family.

Asked for comment, Hochul spokesperson Avi Small said: "Governor Hochul attended the wake today to mourn the loss of Officer Diller, offer her condolences and hear from his family and loved ones who are dealing with unimaginable grief.”

Hochul's visit came a day after thousands of police officers, first responders and everyday New Yorkers arrived from across the state, waiting hours in a steady rain to pay their respects to the heartbroken family on the first day of the wake.

Diller was killed Monday night during a traffic stop in Far Rockaway. The family was receiving visitors Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at Massapequa Funeral.

A service will take place Saturday at St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church in Massapequa, followed by burial at St. Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale. 

The mourners who attended the Thursday afternoon and evening sessions of Diller’s wake included the NYPD’s top brass, local, state and federal lawmakers and former President Donald Trump, who met with Diller's wife, Stephanie.

Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, said the shooting should have never happened, citing the suspect's previous arrests.

“What happened is such a sad, sad event,” said Trump, standing next to Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, Nassau Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder and Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino after arriving at Long Island MacArthur Airport. “Such a horrible thing. And it's happening all too often. And we're not going to let it happen. We just can't.”

Diller was shot and killed after a confrontation with a suspect involving a vehicle parked illegally in a bus lane, according to the NYPD. Diller, who was married with a 1-year-old son, was shot in the torso, under his bullet-resistant vest, by Guy Rivera, 34, the NYPD said.

Police said Rivera fired one shot at Diller while sitting in the passenger seat of a Kia after the two engaged in a tug-of-war over the suspect's car door.

Rivera, of Queens, who was shot by Diller's partner, was charged Thursday with first-degree intentional murder of a police officer, attempted murder and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

The driver of the Kia, Lindy Jones, 41, was arraigned Wednesday on felony weapons charges.

Throughout the day, thousands of members of the NYPD, FDNY, Nassau, Suffolk and state police, MTA, Port Authority, Long Beach police and U.S. Customs and Border Protection waited in the rain on a line that stretched 100 yards down Merrick Road to enter the funeral home and pay their respects to Diller’s family.

Floral arrangements of police badges and other bouquets lined the entrance to the funeral home while two Blue Lives Matter flags flew above the building next to an American flag. A PBA video billboard showed a slideshow of photos of Diller and his family.

Blakeman said Diller’s widow, Stephanie, will have plenty of help watching over their son, Ryan.

“We’re going to help raise [him] because he’s only 1 years old,” he said. “He’s going to have thousands of dads look after him.”

Ryder said the “family is going through a tough time. The wife is very distraught. But she’s tough, she’s strong … On Sunday, it starts all over for her and we’re gonna be here for her.”

The wake attracted enhanced security, with sharpshooters perched on nearby roofs and the Secret Service sweeping cars in the parking lot and searching members of the media with metal detectors. Several SWAT vehicles, along with dozens of officers, were stationed in front of the funeral home.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban and Long Island Reps. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) and Nick LaLota (R-Amityville) were among those in attendance.

Rep. Anthony D'Esposito (R-Island Park), who is expected to attend Friday’s visitation after returning from a trip to Rome Thursday, said he has a note from the Vatican ambassador and rosary beads blessed by Pope Francis for Stephanie Diller.

President Joe Biden, who was in New York Thursday for a fundraiser, spoke with Adams and expressed his sympathy to the Diller family, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said.

Diller, who comes from a family of law enforcement, joined the NYPD in February 2021 and was assigned to the community response team in February 2024, working out of the 105th Precinct and later the 116th.

“He loved his job. He was born to be a cop, he was born to be a hero,” Diller’s brother-in-law, Joseph Lienhop, said during a candlelight vigil in Massapequa Park Wednesday night. “He died being a hero. He died doing what he loved.”

On Thursday, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation said it was paying off the mortgage of the Diller family's Massapequa Park home, where they had lived for about three years.

Also Thursday, Hochul directed flags on all state buildings to be flown at half-staff through Saturday in honor of Diller. Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said flags at county facilities would fly at half-staff through Monday in honor of the faller officer.

Massapequa businesses were also doing their part Thursday to honor Diller’s life.

Outside Mercato Kitchen and Cocktails, server Carolyn Uttlinger tied blue ribbons on support columns to show solidarity with the law enforcement community.

“We want to support the cause,” Uttlinger said. “We have a lot of regulars who come here who know someone in law enforcement. This place is like Cheers. Everybody knows everybody. Everybody is supportive and loyal to the community.”

Dana Abruzzo, of Medford, was slinging slices at Sgambati’s Pizza as officers trickled into the restaurant Thursday afternoon. The restaurant is donating $1 per every slice and $5 for every pie sold Thursday and Friday to Diller’s family.

“It is completely heartbreaking,” Abruzzo said of Diller’s death. “For someone so young, with a wife and children, it’s not right for any officer to have to go through that, for the family of any officer, it is very upsetting.”

Tropical Smoothie said it also is donating 15% of Thursday’s and Friday’s sales to the family of the fallen officer.

“We just wanted to come together with the community and see if we could raise some money to help,” said Danielle Savino, of West Babylon, who was working behind the counter.

With Nicole Fuller