NYPD sergeants’ union warns anti-police NY pols to stay away from slain cop Jonathan Diller’s funeral — including Council Speaker Adams, Public Advocate Williams

Anti-cop politicians should stay away from the funeral of slain NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller, the Sergeants Benevolent Association warned Wednesday -- specifically calling out City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Public Advocate Jumaanee Williams.
Anti-cop politicians should stay away from the funeral of slain NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller, the Sergeants Benevolent Association warned Wednesday -- specifically calling out City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Public Advocate Jumaanee Williams.
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Anti-cop politicians should stay away from the funeral of slain NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller, the Sergeants Benevolent Association warned Wednesday — specifically calling out City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams.

“Adrienne Adams, Jumaane Williams and their cohorts should stay home. They detest cops and have no appreciation for what they do. They should stay home and not pretend they are grieving. They have caused enough heartbreak and destruction,” SBA president Vincent Vallelong told The Post.

His comments echoed a scathing letter sent by the union, which represents sergeants of the NYPD, slamming anti-police council members for posting “hollow” and “untrue” statements of sympathy about 31-year-old Diller’s killing — and saying that they, too, were not wanted at the funeral Saturday.

How The Post told the tragic story. New York Post
How The Post told the tragic story. New York Post

“They are as morally responsible for PO Diller’s death as the career criminal who pulled the trigger,” the searing letter states, referring to the ex-con who police say gunned down the hero cop — the married dad of a 1-year-old boy — in Queens on Monday.

Vallelong accused the council and “many prosecutors” of being “complicit in this utter destruction of civilized society in New York,” according to the letter.

“The Council members who are vehemently and inexplicably against public safety are responsible for the carnage in the streets and the heartbreak brought about by PO Diller’s completely avoidable death,” the missive states.

Vallelong, speaking to The Post, ripped Speaker Adams specifically for not pushing back against bills targeting the NYPD, and for the way the council has handled oversight of the department.

“I’m just disgusted with how all these people are right now. They are not doing what is right. People are killed over this,” he fumed.

Members of the council “who have declared war on the police” should be the ones put under the microscope, not the other way around, Vallelong wrote in the letter, saying the council should be “investigated for every legislative mistake and misstep they make.”

Williams was one of the leading voices to “defund” the NYPD during the 2020 anti-police brutality protests that rocked the city — going as far as threatening to block then-Mayor Bill de Blasio from collecting property taxes if he didn’t freeze hiring and take cops out of schools.

While Adams opposed the defund movement four years ago, she and Williams in January spearheaded the council’s vote to reject an attempt by Mayor Eric Adams (no relation) to veto the “How Many Stops Act,” which requires cops to document the minutiae of almost all public interactions.

Critics argued that the bill will only make New Yorkers “less safe on the streets” while burying cops in a mountain of paperwork.

“Adrienne Adams [above], Jumaane Williams and their cohorts should stay home,” the Sergeants Benevolent Association warned Wednesday. Robert Miller
“Adrienne Adams [above], Jumaane Williams and their cohorts should stay home,” the Sergeants Benevolent Association warned Wednesday. Robert Miller

“When you speak to the young people in our communities and ask them about their experiences with police stops, they will tell you how invasive and scary they can be. Our communities are traumatized because of these stops,” she said when defending the bill.

In the wake of Diller’s killing, Adams, Williams and other proponents of the bill took to social media to share their condolences, with the speaker writing that she was “heartbroken” by the tragedy.

“We all deserve to be safe and return to our families each day. This senseless violence must end,” she added.

Williams was among those mentioned as the statement claimed they “detest cops and have no appreciation for what they do.” Matthew McDermott
Williams was among those mentioned as the statement claimed they “detest cops and have no appreciation for what they do.” Matthew McDermott

“Officer Diller came to work today as he did every day, prepared to risk his safety to protect the city, and lost his life in service to our community,” Williams posted on X.

“I join all New Yorkers to honor his sacrifice, and uplift his life and memory,” he wrote.

Vallelong, however, was incensed by the comments.

Officer Diller and his son, Ryan, 1, pose at a wedding. Facebook/Jean O'Donnell
Officer Diller and his son, Ryan, 1, pose at a wedding. Facebook/Jean O'Donnell

“As I read the news and social media posts written by many New York City Council members, it enrages me how hollow and untrue their words of sympathy and empathy are,” he wrote in the letter.

“Despite their admonitions to the contrary, the ‘leadership’ in the Council has failed city residents, workers, and visitors at every turn. They are blinded by their own hatred and twisted ideology,” he claimed.

Members of the council will doubtlessly show up to Diller’s funeral, “shed a few crocodile tears” and use the event as a “good photo opportunity,” Vallelong charged in the missive.

“Their presence is more than a distraction. It is a stain on the legacy of a true hero who made the ultimate sacrifice,” he wrote. “The sad reality is, we don’t want them there.”

Asked about the mayor and Gov. Kathy Hochul, the union boss said they would be welcome at the funeral, set for 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Rose of Lima R.C. Church in Massapequa.

“We all know who they are, we all know who the cop haters are,” he noted to The Post.

A council spokesperson said in a statement: “Our city is united in mourning the loss of a father, husband, son and public servant, whose life was taken by senseless violence. It’s unfortunate that some would rather use this tragedy to launch political attacks that seek to divide us.”

Cops take Officer Diller’s body to the city morgue. William Miller
Cops take Officer Diller’s body to the city morgue. William Miller

In the wake of the slaying, the mayor had called out the state’s revolving-door criminal justice system for allowing recidivist offenders to be out on the streets, referring to alleged shooter Guy Rivera, 34, an ex-con with 21 past arrests, and Lindy Jones, 41, the driver of the car he was in, who had been busted at least 14 times previously.

“We’ve always had a problem with recidivism, it’s always been a problem but we’ve really never zeroed in on it with case after case,” Adams told reporters.

New Yorkers have gone out of their way to pay tribute to the fallen cop, whose wake is Thursday.

At the time of the deadly shooting, Rivera had 21 prior arrests, mostly for drug-related crimes and assault.

He was spotted by cops Tuesday evening in a double-parked Kia Soul alongside Jones, 41, another career criminal, whose nickname is “Killa.”

The pair were approached by NYPD “quality of life” officers, including Diller, outside a T-Mobile store.

Diller, 31, was allegedly shot in the stomach by career criminal Guy Rivera, 34, during a traffic stop in Queens on Monday evening.
Diller, 31, was allegedly shot in the stomach by career criminal Guy Rivera, 34, during a traffic stop in Queens on Monday evening.

By Wednesday morning, there was a sizable makeshift memorial outside the 101st Precinct, including a smattering of candles, flowers and balloons.

One floral arrangement had a message from PS 104, which read “Officer Dillon a Hero,” flanked by hearts.

“I used to be a cop … one of my friends died,” one particularly distraught man told The Post while he dropped off his own flowers.

Also on Wednesday, the Survivors of the Shield, a group of NYPD widows and widowers, issued notice for a fundraiser to support Diller’s wife, Stephanie, and their young son.

“We know what Stephanie and Ryan are going through because we’ve all been there,” the announcement read.

Additional reporting by Georgett Roberts