The widow of slain New York Police Department (NYPD) officer Jason Rivera gave an emotional eulogy on Friday at his funeral after he was shot a week ago in Harlem on a domestic dispute call.
“Although I gained thousands of blue brothers and sisters, I’m the loneliest without you,” Dominique Rivera said through tears.
Thousands attended or watched the livestream of Rivera’s funeral. He was only 22 years old and joined the force in 2020.
Multiple eulogies were given, including by the police commissioner and Mayor Eric Adams (D).
“I would say good morning to you all, but in fact it’s the worst morning ever,” Dominique Rivera said. “Today I’m still in this nightmare I wished I never had.”
Rivera said that last Friday she had seen on her Citizen app that two police officers were shot and tried contacting Jason and his friends multiple times, to check if he was OK. She got a call soon after telling her she needed to go to the hospital.
Dominique and Jason Rivera were married in October, but she said during the eulogy the two have known each other since they were kids.
The late NYPD officer previously said he wanted to join the force to help the “chaotic city” after he grew up in an immigrant family in a community that did not have a good relationship with the police, The Associated Press reported.
“I remember one day when I witnessed my brother being stopped and frisked. I asked myself, why are we being pulled over if we are in a taxi?” Jason Rivera wrote in an essay obtained by the AP. “My perspective on police and the way they police really bothered me.”
“I realized how impactful my role as a police officer would go in this chaotic city,” he added.
A second officer, Wilbert Mora, also died later in the week from injuries sustained during the Friday night call.
“Jason is so happy right now that all of you are here. Through pain and sorrow, this is exactly how he would have wanted to be remembered, like a true hero,” Dominique said. “I promise, we promise, that your death won’t be in vain. I love you to the end of time. We’ll take the watch from here.”