Gov. Cathy Hochul said she “understands” why the family of slain NYPD Detective Jonathan Diller is “outraged,” but suddenly “his blood is on your hands.” Despite being told this, he insisted on Saturday that he was never asked to leave the heroic officer’s wake.
“I want to do it again. That’s my job,” Hochul said, defending his decision to attend Diller’s wake on Long Island the day before.
“I was told the family was welcome. They asked me to come because they’re always checking on me, so I went. And no one asked me to leave.” Hochul also told Politico. During an Easter event at Government House in Albany.
Hochul, who spoke with the Rev. Al Sharpton on MSNBC’s PoliticsNation later Saturday, said he spoke with Diller’s wife, Stephanie, and other family members at the vigil, saying, “Everyone is very distraught and there’s certainly a lot of anger. “There is,” he admitted.
Hochul, who did not attend Saturday’s funeral, added: “There is understandable anger that these people have committed crimes over and over again and are back on the streets.”
Since Diller, 31, was killed Monday during a traffic stop in Far Rockaway, Queens, Hochul has come under fire as the face of controversial bail reform, and law enforcement agencies have not released bail. The system is said to be the reason for the increase in recidivism.
Despite her own efforts to roll back reforms, Ms. Hochul is unable to roll back reforms that many say allow violent criminals to take to the streets and endanger police officers and everyday New Yorkers. could not.
The main suspect in Diller’s murder, 34-year-old Guy Rivera, has at least 21 prior arrests and five years in prison.
What you need to know about the shooting death of NYPD officer Jonathan Diller:
Follow The Post’s complete coverage of the vigil for fallen NYPD officer Diller
“We worked hard together [state] “Congress last year amended bail laws to give judges more discretion, but there are many complicating factors here,” Hochul said.
“But I can understand the family’s anger. It’s true.”
“We are serious about reducing crime,” Hochul emphasized, citing an order earlier this month to deploy 750 National Guard troops and 250 state troopers and MTA troopers to New York City’s subways. emphasized.
How Post Readers Can Help
You can support Officer Jonathan Diller’s one-year-old son through the Silver Shield Foundation and help fund his future education. Diller, 31, was shot and killed during a traffic stop in Queens, leaving behind his wife, Stephanie, and his baby, Ryan.
The Silver Shield Foundation was established in 1982 by the late New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner to benefit the families of NYPD police officers and New York City Fire Department firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty.
You can contribute with silvershieldfoundation.org/donate or write to Silver Shield Foundation, 870 UN Plaza, 1st Floor, New York, NY 10017.
However, Hochul was unable to speak to anyone in the Diller family, and sources said that at the wake, Hochul turned to her and said: You are not wanted here. There is blood on her hands. If you want to do something, change bail laws. ”
Hochul’s spokeswoman Avi Small also declined to address the conflict, saying the governor “mourns Officer Diller’s death, expresses condolences, and listens to the families and loved ones who are dealing with unimaginable grief.” “I attended the wake for this purpose,” he said in an email. ”
