The New York City Football Club held a moving moment of silence in memory of slain NYPD Detective Jonathan Diller prior to Saturday’s game on the Citi Field turf.
Diller’s mother, sister, cousin and 11 members of Diller’s coaching staff attended the Pigeons’ pregame ceremony to inspire the team to a 2-0 victory over D.C. United.
“It was a very somber moment for everyone in the stadium. Times and moments like this are not something we take lightly, and we were honored that they accepted our invitation.” CEO Jennifer O’Sullivan told the Post.
“This is one of those moments where we recognize that the legacy of the men and women of the NYPD is so much more than that. So for us, it’s not only about thanking him for his service and sacrifice, but also about his It was also about acknowledging the legacy he left for his son and his family who were there to carry on the name.”
The emotional memorial comes nearly a month after Diller was shot and killed during a traffic stop in the Far Rockaway neighborhood of Queens.
O’Sullivan, whose husband is a former NYPD detective, said it was an honor to hand out two New York City FC jerseys to grieving families at the ceremony.
At the time, she joked to Diller’s mother about turning Little Ryan into an avid NYCFC fan. Even though the 1-year-old’s late father was famously a die-hard New York Islanders fan.
Mr O’Sullivan said: “There was a bit of a flirtatious atmosphere in the moment, but she was clearly very, very moved.”
Mayor Eric Adams also paid tribute to the fallen soldier in a speech during the ceremony, after spending some time alone with his family and Diller’s surviving comrades.
Hizzoner was at the game to celebrate City Council approval for the team to build a seven-story soccer stadium at Willets Point, across from Citi Field.
“Detective Diller was a police officer in Queens. For us, it was as important as bringing this community together. And while it was a celebration for us, it also meant that here in a few years… It was also about understanding that this is our permanent home and recognizing the work of our first responders, especially the NYPD,” O’Sullivan said.
“It was just a momentous time for us all to come together to celebrate that community and the importance and significance that they play in our community.”
The ceremony marks the third time in three weeks that Diller and his family have been honored at Citi Field.
The Mets held a moment of silence for the fallen officer during a home game last week, following the Amazins’ emotional moment of silence against Diller in last month’s home opener.
He has also been honored numerous times by his favorite hockey team, including a record-breaking 50/50 drawing that sent the surviving family home with a $76,000 jackpot.
Diller was on patrol last month when career criminal Guy Rivera, 34, allegedly shot him in the stomach after he and his partner recognized Rivera’s car parked in front of a bus stop.
Rivera is also a veteran criminal with 21 arrests and served five years in state prison for a drug conviction before being released in 2021 and completing parole in 2022.
Rivera – is charged with first- and second-degree murder, attempted first- and second-degree murder, four counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. If convicted of the murder, he could spend the rest of his life in prison, prosecutors said.
Lindy Jones, a 41-year-old ex-convict who was in the driver’s seat at the time of the killing, faces multiple criminal charges for weapons possession and could face up to 15 years in prison.
