'We are not safe anymore': Widow of slain NYC cop attacks woke DA Alvin Bragg over his soft criminal justice system as thousands of cops bring Fifth Avenue to halt to honor fallen colleague Jason Rivera, 22, who was gunned down in cold blood in Harlem
Stunning scenes unfolded outside St Patrick's Cathedral on a snowy Friday as a sea of police officers in their finest dress blues surged towards the iconic Manhattan church to honor their murdered brother Jason Rivera, whose young widow delivered a powerful message condemning the new Manhattan DA's woke policies and a system that 'continues to fail us'.
Mourners filling the pews of the historic cathedral heard emotional eulogies from Rivera's family members, including his young wife, Dominique Rivera, who revealed, while choking back tears, that on the day of her husband's killing, the couple had an argument and she refused to let him drive her, even after Jason told her, prophetically, that this might be the last ride he gives her. The inconsolable widow, wearing a silver pendant in the shape of her husband's police shield, called her decision 'the biggest mistake of my life.' Dominique also used the solemn occasion to vent some of her anger at the city and state's leaders, many of whom were seated in the audience before her, accusing them of failing to protect her husband and his partner, Officer Wilbert Mora. In her pointed remarks, the widow singled out Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat who has been accused of being soft of crime by instructing prosecutors not to pursue certain case.
'This system continues to fail us,' she proclaimed. 'We are not safe anymore, not even the members of the service. I know you were tired of these laws, especially the ones from the new DA. I hope he’s watching you speak through me right now.
'I’m sure all of our blue family is tired too. But I promise, we promise, that your death won’t be in vain.'
Bragg responded in a statement that he was grieving and praying for the slain officers and will 'vigorously prosecute cases of violence against police.'
A week ago, Rivera and Mora were fatally wounded on January 21 by a career criminal who ambushed them in a hallway as they responded to a family dispute in Harlem. Mora's funeral is being held next week, also at St. Patrick's.
Rivera, who had joined the NYPD less than a year ago, was posthumously promoted to detective first grade - the highest rank for a detective.
Scroll down to read powerful eulogy by slain NYPD officer's widow
New York Police pall bearers carry the casket of Officer Jason Rivera out of St. Patrick's Cathedral after his funeral service in St Patrick's Cathedral. Rivera was shot dead in Harlem on Friday January 21 when he and fellow officer Wilbert Mora, who also died from his injuries, responded to a domestic violence call and were shot by man trying to escape
A sea of police officers in their finest dress blues stood in tribute outside Manhattan's iconic St Patrick's Cathedral to honor their murdered brother Jason Rivera. Rivera, who had joined the NYPD less than a year ago, was posthumously promoted to detective first grade - the highest rank for a detective.
Jason Rivera's widow Dominique holds the flag from his casket while watching the funeral procession leave St. Patrick's Cathedral. In her heartbreaking eulogy, the young widow delivered a powerful message condemning the new Manhattan DA's woke policies and a system that 'continues to fail us'
Slain cop Jason Rivera's mother clutches a crucifix and blows a kiss to his casket as it's removed from St Patrick's Cathedral
An overhead view of Police Officers saluting the hearse of carrying the casket of NYPD Officer Jason Rivera out of St. Patrick's Cathedral after his funeral service in New York, New York, USA, 28 January 2022. Rivera was fatally injured on Friday 21 January when he and fellow officer Wilbert Mora, who also died from his injuries, responded to a domestic violence call and were shot by man trying to escape. Officer Mora's funeral will take place next week. EPA/JASON SZENES
Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, a progressive Democrat, responded to Dominique Rivera's criticism in a tweet, vowing to 'vigorously prosecute cases of violence against the police'
Roman Catholic Cardinal Timothy Dolan presided over Rivera's service, held in Spanish and English in recognition of his Dominican heritage. Many of the city´s top leaders were attending, including Mayor Eric Adams, Senator Chuck Schumer and Governor Kathy Hochul.
Adams, himself a retired police captain, told those gathered that he saw an echo of himself in the slain officer who had joined a department he had seen as flawed in hopes of improving it.
Officer Jason Rivera, 22, was a rookie cop who had been on the force in New York City for less than a year
'He did it for the right reasons — he wanted to make a difference,' said Adams.
He went on: 'there were days when I felt the public did not understand and appreciate the job we were [doing], and I want to tell you officers: They do. They do. These two fine men watered the tree of safety that allows us to sit under the shade from the hot sun of violence.'
Hochul, a Democrat, said flags at state buildings would fly at half-staff from sunrise the day of Rivera's funeral until sunset the day of Mora's funeral on Wednesday.
The officers came from near and far to honor Rivera, who, at age 22, was recently married and barely into his second year of service on the force.
His wife Dominique, often struggling to speak, recounted her final conversation with her husband the day he died. She said with regret that the two had an argument about Jason's use of his work cellphone while off duty, and as a result she refused to let him drive her, and instead summoned an Uber - because she did not want to continue arguing.
'You said it might be the last ride I give you,' Dominique quoted Jason. 'I said no … and that was probably the biggest mistake I ever made.'
Hours later, she saw to her horror a Citizen app alert on her phone about two officers being shot in Harlem and then worriedly texting and calling her husband.
Her messages went unanswered, until she got a call summoning her to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.
'I’m still in this nightmare that I wish I never had, full of rage and anger, hurt and sad, torn,' she said.
In the final portion of her speech, Dominique turned her attention to the new Manhattan DA's progressive policies, accusing him of leaving the city's law enforcement officers feeling unsafe.
Bragg, who had no involvement with the officers' killer, responded to the widow's withering criticism in a tweet.
'I am grieving and praying for Detective Rivera and Officer Mora today and every day, and my thoughts are with their families and the NYPD,' Bragg wrote. 'Violence against police officers will never be tolerated, and my office will vigorously prosecute cases of violence against the police.'
Dominique shared a photo of her late husband's new detective badge, which he received posthumously
An enormous crowd of police officers are gathered outside St Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Avenue at the conclusion of the funeral Mass for fallen Officer Jason Rivera on Friday
A sea of officers are standing shoulder to shoulder outside St Patrick's Cathedral on a snowy Friday morning in Manhattan to honor their slain brother
Fallen NYPD officer Jason Rivera's flag-draped casket is carried from St Patrick's Cathedral after his funeral
A procession of bagpipers march ahead of the hearse carrying NYPD rookie Jason Rivera as hundreds of NYPD officers in their dress blues salute in honor of their fallen brother
Bagpipers accompany the hearse down Manhattan's Fifth Avenue after the funeral service for NYPD officer Jason Rivera, who was killed in the line of duty while responding to a domestic violence call
The family of Officer Rivera, including his widow, seen clutching an American flag, and his mother, seen doubled over, stand outside St Patrick's Cathedral after the funeral, surrounded by a sea of blue
Dominique Rivera breaks down in tears while clutching the crucifix that rested on the shroud covering her husband Jason's casket during the service
Dominique Rivera is comforted by family members and is saluted by an officer at the end of the service at St Patrick's Cathedral
Jason Rivera's mother breaks down in sobs as she watched her son's casket being removed from the cathedral after the funeral service on Friday
Rivera’s casket, draped in a green, white and blue NYPD flag, is carried out on the shoulders of police officers outside St Patrick's Cathedral
Police officers waited patiently outside during the two-and-a-half-hour funeral Mass to see Officer Rivera off on his final journey to his resting place
Inspector Amir Yakatally, the commanding officer of Rivera’s and Mora’s precinct, said that Rivera began a police career at a difficult time — amid the coronavirus pandemic and protests over policing and other issues — and was so excited to get to work that he double-parked in front of the stationhouse his first day and showed up early every workday after.
'Jason saw the need and had the desire to foster a positive relationship between police and his community,' he said. 'He was what we all want in a cop.'
Jeffrey Rivera recalled that as a youngster, his brother — 'Tata' to his family — listened to police radio transmissions, watched police dramas on TV and became 'obsessed' with a law enforcement career.
'My brother's first love was policing. That was his first love,' Jeffrey said.
After the funeral, Rivera’s casket, draped in a green, white and blue NYPD flag, was taken via funeral procession, including family, colleagues and a massive police motorcycle entourage, to Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York, where the officer will be cremated and laid to rest.
Over the years, more than 500 New York police officers have died in gunfire, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page.
'It's an emotional time,' said retired NYPD Officer Sean Flanagan, who played the bagpipes outside the cathedral. 'We honor our own, we take care of our own.'
On Thursday, ordinary citizens joined thousands of uniformed officers at the cathedral for Rivera's wake.Patty Marsibilio, 61, traveled an hour by subway from the Bronx to pay her respects and pray for the safety of other New York City police officers.
This is something that was so terrible,' she said. 'He was 22 years old, married not even four months.'
An overhead view of a line of motorcycle police officers before the casket of NYPD Officer Jason Rivera leaves St. Patrick's Cathedral en route to a cemetery
Thousands of NYPD officers gathered in sub-zero temperatures to honor their fallen brother
Bagpipers in their full regalia march down Fifth Avenue behind Rivera's casket
Rivera's widow, Dominique Rivera, walks behind her newlywed husband's coffin as it is being carried out of the cathedral at the conclusion of the Mass
Dominique Rivera walks past her husband's casket after eulogizing him during his funeral mass at St. Patricks Cathedral
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, (center facing camera), hugs family members of Officer Rivera, with his widow Dominique standing to the side
New York City Police Officer Jason Rivera's brother Jeffrey touches his casket after eulogizing him
Members of the NYPD were out in full force to salute one of their own. Rivera and Wilbert Mora became the first officers to be killed in the line of duty by a gunman since 2017
Thousands of NYPD officers in their dress blues arrive at St Patrick's Cathedral to honor the 22-year-old rookie who was killed in the line of duty last week
A female officer breaks down in tears while standing in line during Rivera's funeral in Manhattan on Friday
Mourner Tracy Kelly cries as she arrives for Rivera's funeral service at St. Patrick's Cathedral
Taps is performed by a trio of NYPD officers outside St. Patrick's Cathedral in honor of Rivera
Heavily armed police officers in tactical gear stand guard outside the church during Rivera's funeral service on Fifth Avenue
Dominique Rivera spoke about her last interaction with Jason just hours before his death. She said they had an argument and she called an Uber instead of letting him drive her. He told her: 'it might be the last ride I give you'
Jeffrey Rivera said that his younger brother, known in the family as 'Tata' was 'obsessed' with his career in law enforcement, and that his first love was policing
Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell delivers a eulogy at Rivera's funeral. She announced that he has been posthumously promoted to detective first grade Throughout the week, friends and fellow police officers remembered Rivera and Mora as caring and dedicated. Both grew up in the city's ethnic enclaves and, by many accounts, had hoped to help the department build bridges with the community.
The gunman, 47-year-old career criminal Lashawn McNeil, who was shot by a third officer, died earlier in the week. Authorities are still investigating why he fired at the officers as they responded to a domestic violence call in Harlem.
Rivera had been an NYPD police officer for less than a year. He leaves behind his newlywed wife, Dominique.
The couple met in kindergarten at age 5 and began dating each other when they were 15 years old. They got married on October 9, 2021.
'That was her first love, her only love,' Carmen Suarez, a fellow NYPD widow, told PIX11.
Mora was in his fourth year on the job. His wake and funeral Mass were planned for next week, also at the iconic Roman Catholic cathedral.
An overhead view of members of the New York City Police Department arriving to St. Patrick's Cathedral for Rivera's funeral service on Friday
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) arrives for the funeral of Officer Rivera at St. Patrick's Cathedral, a day after he attended the hero cop's wake
Mayor Eric Adams (left) and Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell (right) were on hand on Friday to pay their final respects to Rivera
New York State Attorney General Latisha James arrives for the funeral of Officer Jason Rivera at St. Patrick's Cathedral
Officer Rivera's emotional family members arrive at his funeral at St Patrick's Cathedral on Friday
A bagpipe player is seen arriving at the cathedral on Fifth Avenue for Rivera's funeral Mass
Mourners in dress blues and white gloves embrace ahead of the funeral service Friday
Lashawn McNeil, 47, who was shot by a third officer, died on Monday
Before Friday, the last NYPD officer killed in the line of duty was Anastasios Tsakos, who was struck by a suspected drunken driver in May 2021 while assisting officers at the scene of an earlier crash on a Queens highway.
The last NYPD officer fatally shot in the line of duty, Brian Mulkeen, was hit by friendly fire while struggling with an armed man after chasing and shooting at him in the Bronx in September 2019.
In 2015, Officer Randolph Holder was shot and killed by a man riding a stolen bicycle in Manhattan and Officer Brian Moore died after he was shot by a man in Queens.
The year before, Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos were fatally shot by a man who ambushed them as they sat in their patrol car in Brooklyn.
President Joe Biden will visit New York City next week to discuss combating gun crime with Mayor Adams.
There have been 73 shooting incidents so far this year in the city - an increase of 23.7 per cent compared to last year. A total of 82 people have been shot as of January 23, up from 67 in the first three weeks of 2021.NYPD arrive by the thousands to honor fallen cop Jason Rivera
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