The man convicted ofshooting and killing a Queens police officer in 2024was sentenced on Monday to spend the next 115 years behind bars as the slain cop’s family wept in court.

Guy Rivera, 36, wasconvicted of manslaughter and first-degree attempted murder on April 1 in a jury trialthat resulted in no conviction onfirst-degree murder charges that the Queens District Attorney’s office had initially sought. Despite being found guilty of the lesser charges, Rivera felt the wrath of justice on April 27 for causing the death of Police Officer Jonathan Diller — as Judge Michael Aloise threw the proverbial book at the killer.

“The defendant killed your loved one; there are no words in the English language that are going to take away your pain and suffering, not even in the knowledge that this defendant will most certainly die in a prison cell, and I promise you he will,” Judge Aloise told Diller’s family just before handing down the sentence of 115 years.

Rivera was found guilty of firing the fatal shots that claimed Diller’s life during a traffic stop in Far Rockaway on the afternoon of March 28, 2024. Law enforcement sources said Rivera, who was a passenger in a vehicle that Diller’s Community Response Team had stopped, initiated a gun battle that left Diller mortally wounded.

The convicted killer sat upright in a black dress shirt in Queens Criminal Court on Monday and did not react to the news that he would never be a free man again.

“He will be eligible for parole after 115 years,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz later said.Guy Rivera is led away in handcuffs after his sentencing on April 27, 2026.Photo by Dean MosesThe sentence came after Diller’s loved ones poured their hearts out to a courtroom packed with family and cops. Diller’s widow, Stephanie Diller, dabbed her eyes with a tissue and spoke directly to Rivera as she pledged to never think of him again once she exited the chambers.“I stand here speaking directly to you, because this is the last moment I will allow you to take from me. You took my husband, Jonathan. You took the future we planned together, the life we were building, the years we were supposed to share, and the moment our family will never get back,” she said. “I did not get to hold his hand. I did not get to say goodbye.”It barely seemed to register with Rivera, who sat stonefaced next to his attorney Jamal Johnson while hearing Stephanie Diller’s remarks.Officer Diller’s widow, Stephanie Diller, dabbed her eyes with a tissue and spoke directly to Rivera as she pledged to never think of him again once she exited the chambers.Photo by Dean MosesDespite the flood of emotion and the tremendous impact the slaying and subsequent trial had on the Diller family and his NYPD colleagues, Rivera’s legal team vowed to appeal the decision. Johnson argued that the jury was not able to hear all the facts and even suggested the sentence was biased.“The court’s rulings, which prevented the jury from considering important evidence and lesser-included charges supported by the record — including reckless manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide — impaired the integrity of the jury’s verdict,” Johnson said. “Just as important, the fact that the court stated it had already made up its mind about sentencing well before the trial was conducted reveals the bias and uphill battle the defense faced throughout this case. Accordingly, we intend to appeal this decision.”Rivera was advised by his attorney not to address the court.Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry said he is not concerned about Rivera or a conviction appeal, having harsh words for the convicted killer. “The bottom line is, he’s a murderer. We don’t care what he has to say. We want him to rot behind bars for the rest of his life,” Hendry said.Photo by Dean MosesPolice Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry said he is not concerned about Rivera or a conviction appeal, having harsh words for the convicted killer.“The bottom line is, he’s a murderer. We don’t care what he has to say. We want him to rot behind bars for the rest of his life,” Hendry said.Police Commissioner Jeasica Tisch also weighed in on the sentencing,taking to social media to commend the outcome.“Today’s sentence of Guy Rivera for the murder of Detective Jonathan Diller means Rivera will spend the rest of his life in prison. That is obviously the right result, for him and for anyone who kills a New York City Police Officer,” Tisch wrote.

The sentence came after Diller’s loved ones poured their hearts out to a courtroom packed with family and cops. Diller’s widow, Stephanie Diller, dabbed her eyes with a tissue and spoke directly to Rivera as she pledged to never think of him again once she exited the chambers.

“I stand here speaking directly to you, because this is the last moment I will allow you to take from me. You took my husband, Jonathan. You took the future we planned together, the life we were building, the years we were supposed to share, and the moment our family will never get back,” she said. “I did not get to hold his hand. I did not get to say goodbye.”

It barely seemed to register with Rivera, who sat stonefaced next to his attorney Jamal Johnson while hearing Stephanie Diller’s remarks.Officer Diller’s widow, Stephanie Diller, dabbed her eyes with a tissue and spoke directly to Rivera as she pledged to never think of him again once she exited the chambers.Photo by Dean MosesDespite the flood of emotion and the tremendous impact the slaying and subsequent trial had on the Diller family and his NYPD colleagues, Rivera’s legal team vowed to appeal the decision. Johnson argued that the jury was not able to hear all the facts and even suggested the sentence was biased.“The court’s rulings, which prevented the jury from considering important evidence and lesser-included charges supported by the record — including reckless manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide — impaired the integrity of the jury’s verdict,” Johnson said. “Just as important, the fact that the court stated it had already made up its mind about sentencing well before the trial was conducted reveals the bias and uphill battle the defense faced throughout this case. Accordingly, we intend to appeal this decision.”Rivera was advised by his attorney not to address the court.Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry said he is not concerned about Rivera or a conviction appeal, having harsh words for the convicted killer. “The bottom line is, he’s a murderer. We don’t care what he has to say. We want him to rot behind bars for the rest of his life,” Hendry said.Photo by Dean MosesPolice Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry said he is not concerned about Rivera or a conviction appeal, having harsh words for the convicted killer.“The bottom line is, he’s a murderer. We don’t care what he has to say. We want him to rot behind bars for the rest of his life,” Hendry said.Police Commissioner Jeasica Tisch also weighed in on the sentencing,taking to social media to commend the outcome.“Today’s sentence of Guy Rivera for the murder of Detective Jonathan Diller means Rivera will spend the rest of his life in prison. That is obviously the right result, for him and for anyone who kills a New York City Police Officer,” Tisch wrote.

Despite the flood of emotion and the tremendous impact the slaying and subsequent trial had on the Diller family and his NYPD colleagues, Rivera’s legal team vowed to appeal the decision. Johnson argued that the jury was not able to hear all the facts and even suggested the sentence was biased.

Source: LI Press