'Died a hero': Slain NYPD cop Jonathan Diller's wife Stephanie delivers emotional speech at his funeral

QUEENS, NEW YORK: Slain NYPD officer Jonathan Diller's wife Stephanie delivered a touching speech at his funeral on Saturday, March 30.

Jonathan Diller was fatally shot in Far Rockaway, close to John F Kennedy International Airport, on Monday, March 25, reportedly by the career criminal Guy Rivera.

Jonathan Diller received a police funeral with thousands of cops across the country lining up 

Diller received a police funeral at St Rose of Lima RC Church in Massapequa, on Long Island, that began at 10.30 am where Diller was posthumously promoted to detective first grade by Police Commissioner Edward Caban.

His casket, draped with the green and white NYPD flag, was taken into the church past a sea of uniformed officers, Daily Mail reported. 

Police report that Officer Diller, 31, and his partner were engaged in a traffic stop for an illegally parked car on the afternoon of Monday, March 25, when an individual in the vehicle brandished a firearm at the officers.

An exchange of gunfire ensued, during which Officer Diller was hit in the torso beneath his bullet-resistant vest. Diller was rushed to a local hospital, where he later died.

His coffin, once brought inside, was adorned with Catholic regalia and taken to the front of the church, followed by his wife Stephanie Diller, and their one-year-old son Ryan.

Jonathan Diller's wife Stephanie Diller made an emotional speech 

Mayor Eric Adams, PBA President Patrick Hendry, and Diller's wife, Stephanie, delivered their remarks.

Stephanie made a long and emotional speech and spoke with pride about her husband despite being on the verge of breaking into tears. 

She received a standing ovation when she came up to deliver the speech.

"He has always been a hero to Ryan and me, the rest of the world is just catching up" she said. Adding, "My husband died a hero, but he always lived as one."

Stephanie Diller recalled how Jonathan Diller fell asleep during an early date

Stephanie fondly recalled Diller as the mischievous youngest child who would pen heartfelt apology letters to his mother.

Their paths crossed after he graduated from maritime college, thanks to a blind date arranged by their mutual friend, Evan.

During one of their early dates, Diller dozed off in a movie theater, utterly exhausted from work.

"He was snoring so loudly people asked me to wake him up... but if you ask him, I was the one who fell asleep," Stephanie said.

"I quickly knew I had met the person I was going to marry... we could understand each other with a look," Stephanie continued, adding, "I looked for him whenever I entered a room and knew I belonged next to him."

Jonathan Diller was excited when his toddler spoke his first word: 'Dada'

Stephanie said she was nervous to walk down the aisle at their wedding until she saw him when the church doors opened.

"He looked at me like I was his whole world and always treated me like I was his whole world," she said. "He called us Batman and Robin, but he said I was Batman and he was Robin," she added.

Stephanie mentioned that Diller experienced a burst of joy whenever Ryan did something new, and he was especially thrilled that his first word was "dada."

She continued, "This is devastating senseless and tragic loss for the whole city." She added, "It breaks my heart that Ryan was robbed of being able to grow up with his dad."

Stephanie questioned, "How many more police officers and how many more families have to make the ultimate sacrifice before we start protecting them?"

"Rest in peace, Jonathan Diller, the man who captured my heart and now all of New York's," she concluded.