Former New York Police Department officer Jonathan Diller has become the victim of false information as missing posts for the officer have been circulating online. Users noted that the posts were a scam as Diller passed away on duty on March 25, 2024.
The Facebook posts suggested that Jonathan Diller had been missing while traveling with his toddler since September. The posts included pictures of the officer alongside his son and mentioned their height and weight.
Reports detailed that Diller had left his home at night, but the authorities discovered his truck shortly after, and there were no signs of him.
Further, a silver alert had been issued for the officer who was considered in extreme danger and needed medical assistance.
Moreover, users speculated that Diller meant to harm his toddler as he hadn’t left a note or informed his wife, Stephaine, about his unexpected travel. The posts received thousands of engagements as communities gathered to locate the officer.
However, the Port Huron Police Department uploaded a public statement to address the scam and added, “We have been made aware of a Facebook post circulating that claims Police Officer Jonathon Diller has gone missing in Port Huron. We want to clarify that this post is not true.“
Similarly, the administration confirmed that Diller had lost his life in the line of duty during a traffic stop in Far Rockaway, Queens. The department monitored the shares of the case across various community group pages.
They requested that users refrain from sharing the information and instead report it to the platform to stop the spread of false news. The posts greatly affected Diller’s wife, who was questioned by users while grieving her husband’s unfortunate demise.
Jonathan Diller spent a peaceful day out with his family before his unfortunate demise!
Soon after Diller’s departure, his wife, Stephaine, assisted by the New York Police Department, made a public statement to the media. She mentioned that the family spent a day at Massapequa Park as Diller needed a break from working overtime at the precinct.
Further, the couple spent the day playing with their son Ryan, and the officer left his family for a night shift with the department’s Community Response Team in Patrol Borough Queens South.
Pocatello Police were notified of a social media post being shared during the weekend. The post said that Officer Jonathan Diller went missing in Pocatello. This information is false.
— Pocatello Police (@PocatelloPD) September 16, 2024
Detective Jonathan Diller was shot and killed during a traffic stop in New York City 03/25/24. pic.twitter.com/ppuXnr0mPz
Later, authorities informed his wife that a federal offender, Guy Rivera, had fatally wounded the officer in the stomach, just beneath his bulletproof vest. Rivera had 21 counts of detention on his record and used a small firearm during the attack.
They airlifted Diller to Jamaica Hospital, and police officers assisted his wife. Stephaine mentioned, “There was an officer with me. He was like, ‘Stephanie, you have to take a breath. I haven’t seen you breathe.‘”
Additionally, Stephaine detailed that she lost the father of her child, her best friend, and her greatest advisor that day. She promised to keep Diller’s memories alive for her toddler as she reckoned it would be most difficult for him to grow up without a father.
Meanwhile, Diller’s partner detained Rivera at the scene, and the court charged him with attempted assault and illegal firearm possession. Thousands of people attended Diller’s funeral, including various public figures.
Additional Information
- After Diller’s passing, his family received more than $2 million through fundraising efforts. The members of the NYPD SCUBA team initiated a GoFundMe to collect over $700,000, and Barstool Sports donated over $750,000.
- Born and raised in Franklin Square, New York, Jonathan Diller was in a state-champion lacrosse team and later attended the State University of New York Maritime College. In the NYPD, Diller recorded over 70 detentions during his three years on the force.
