This is an I-Heart podcast.

Guaranteed Human.

And we continue with our American stories.

It's National Police Week all week long across the country, people across

this country honoring those who paid the ultimate price as cops, sheriffs, or law enforcement

of any kind. Up next, a story about one of those officers. On March 25th, 2024,

Jonathan Diller and his partner were investigating an illegally parked SUV in the far-rockaway section of Queens when a 34-year-old with a long rap sheet pulled out a gun and opened fire at the officers. Diller was hit just below his bulletproof vest. He was rushed to Jamaica Hospital, but his wounds were too severe.

He was the first NYPD cop to lose his life in two years. There were several speakers at his funeral,

none more moving than his wife, Stephanie, who stood at the podium alongside her one-year-old

son, Ryan, at the St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in

Massapequa Park. She didn't talk about how he died, but how her husband lived and who he was.

I am not sure where to start, and I could probably talk about Jonathan for hours, so I'll start

from the beginning. Jonathan was born and raised on Long Island, the son of Fran and Stephen Diller,

and brother to Jennifer and Jason. He was the youngest of three, which obviously means he was the

mischievous one. But he also had the sweetest heart and the guiltiest

conscience, so he would always smooth things over by making his mom handwritten apology

letters. He grew up taking memorable ski trips with his family, playing lacrosse and hockey,

and forming friendships that would last a lifetime. He was a connector, the kind of guy that would draw people in and could find something in common with everyone,

a friend to everyone.

Following graduating from St. Mary's High School, he attended Sunni Maritime, where he lives with his cousin Robert.

He loved telling stories of traveling all over the world and the ship, seeing beautiful

places, and making amazing memories.

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