In a fervent response on Thursday, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch expressed her dismay over the unexpected verdict in the case of NYPD officer Jonathan Diller’s death, describing it as a severe blow to New York’s police force.
“The failure to secure a conviction on the primary murder charge is deeply disappointing,” Tisch shared with the press. “I firmly believe this was a deliberate act of murder.”
After just a few hours of deliberation on Wednesday, a jury in Queens found Guy Rivera not guilty of first-degree murder in the death of the officer. Instead, they convicted him of manslaughter, a decision met with surprise and frustration.
“Not convicting on Murder One feels like a harsh blow to everyone in the NYPD,” Tisch stated emphatically.
“While the defendant was found guilty on all other charges, we anticipate that the sentencing will reflect the seriousness of his actions. Jonathan lost his life two years ago while fulfilling his duty to protect the city,” Tisch continued.
“He faced danger head-on, without hesitation, embodying a life dedicated to service,” she concluded.
“Jonathan’s life, his service and his legacy will remain a part of this department carried forward by the men and women of the NYPD,’’ the city’s top cop said. “May his memory continue to be a blessing.”
Cops told The Post they also are outraged by the verdict they view as nonsensical.
“It doesn’t make sense. I don’t know what evidence they were looking at. How can he be guilty of attempted murder and not murder?” asked an angry Brooklyn officer.
A Staten Island cop added, “How can they say there was no intent?
“He had a gun, and he has been arrested before. He intentionally pulled the trigger on the other officer,” the officer said of Rivera.
Rivera had been arrested 21 previous times before he fatally shot Diller on March 25, 2024 during a caught-on-camera scuffle in Far Rockaway.
He faces up to 90 years without parole for the four counts he was convicted of, with a maximum of 40 years on the attempted-slay rap alone.
He would have faced a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole if convicted on the top charge of first-degree murder.
