New Yorkers pay respect to slain NYPD officer: ‘Such a senseless, senseless crime’

Jay Dow
·2 min read

LONG ISLAND (PIX11) — Long-time Massapequa Park resident Karen Pest-Franzese was braving chilly temperatures and steady rain to pay her respects Thursday at a local funeral home for slain NYPD police officer Jonathan Diller.

She did not know Diller; a distinction that Karen said does not matter, one bit.

Trump attends wake of NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller

“We are such a tight-knit community, and I just wanted to support the family.  Just feel like this is such a senseless, senseless crime. Things like this should not happen,” said Pest-Franzese.

It has been several days since ex-con Guy Rivera fatally shot Officer Diller during what was supposed to be a routine traffic stop in Far Rockaway, Queens.

Prosecutors charged Rivera with Diller’s murder only a few hours before the start of Officer’s wake.

Rivera’s accused accomplice, Lindy Jones, the driver of the vehicle – who was already out on bail from a gun charge last year is once again charged with gun possession after a weapon was found in the vehicle’s glove compartment.

Meantime, at the funeral home – a secure scene – the result of the family’s invitation for former President Donald Trump to attend the wake.

However, in a parking lot across the street, there was no talk of politics from onlooker Michael Fay.

“Just before Christmas this past year, I found out I was diagnosed, at the age of 45, with and with an incurable form of cancer,” said Fay.

Fay’s desire to pay his respects is strong enough that this cancer patient and fellow Massapequa resident says he decided to redirect fundraising efforts for his foundation aimed at performing random acts of kindness to help Officer Diller’s widow and their baby boy.

“100% of those proceeds will be given to Officer Diller and his family. Look around. As a community, we shut down and come together. It is built on cops and firemen. We are grateful for everything they do. They put their lives at risk every single day. And as a community we have just banded and come together for the family of Officer Diller,” said Fay.

A second session for Officer Diller’s wake is set for 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. this evening, and his funeral is scheduled to take place Saturday.

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