Thousands attend second set of wake services for NYPD officer killed in the line of duty
A funeral will be held at Saint Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church on Saturday at 10:30 a.m.
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Wake services for fallen NYPD officer Jonathan Diller continued Friday in Massapequa.
It comes after thousands attended services on Thursday and stood in line in the rain to pay their respects.
News 12 was at the wake on Thursday night where it seemed like an endless stream of people were paying respects to the Diller family.
“I went by earlier, I couldn’t believe the line. It was amazing,” said William Baruso, of Copiague.
Bob Chavanne felt he had to do something special to honor NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller. So, he grabbed his trumpet and played music outside of the wake Friday.
"We're all hurting. The police officers are hurting,” said Chavanne. “I wanted to honor him in a special way with a badge of honor. I hope he hears it in heaven. And I just needed to do something special for him today."
In the ever-growing line outside the massapequa funeral home were former NYPD officers like Taz Famularo. Famularo also says he attended the candlelight vigil Wednesday evening.
"It's a brotherhood and a sisterhood,” he said. “Just because you retire, doesn't mean that you're not part of that."
Donna Hafsal, of Bay Shore, is an EMT and says she has several first responders in her family and said there was no other choice for her but to pay her respects Friday evening.
"I had to pay my respect. I had to,” she said. "I was devastated. I don't ever want to hear that another cop died, especially while they're doing their job. Nobody ever wants to hear that."
Her teenage son Samuel also wants to follow in the footsteps of many of his family members and be a police officer. He also said he knew he had to pay his respects to Officer Diller and his family.
"I would hate for that to happen to my family,” he said. “It would just be devastating to me and my entire family. We are a family so it's devastating to us as well."
All who came out to pay their respects and say their final goodbyes Friday shared one similar message with the family.
"Anything you need, any support that you need,” said Samuel Hafsal. “We're here for you."
The New York Mets honored Diller at their Opening Day presentation.
A wake was held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Massapequa Funeral home.
A funeral will be held at Saint Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church on Saturday at 10:30 a.m.
Due to the services, Whitewood Drive from Merrick Road to Nassau Street will be closed from noon to 10 p.m.
