“I would say good morning to you all, but in fact, this is the worst morning ever,” Dominique Rivera told mourners at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan.
“I can’t believe I’m standing in front of thousands of people in a cathedral we planned to visit later this year. All of this seems so unreal, like I’m having one of those nightmares that you never thought you’d have.”
Rivera said she is “full of rage and anger, hurt and sad, torn. Although I gained thousands of blue brothers and sisters, I’m the loneliest without you. I know you’re looking at me and beside me telling me I could do this, and I’m trying. Trust me, I am. But I didn’t prepare for this.”
She recalled they met in elementary school. He was the “class clown,” she said, and “there was never a dull moment” with him around.
“We never thought our innocent childhood love would lead us to marriage,” she said. “Even when we said I do, we couldn’t believe we said it. October 9th was the happiest day of our lives.”
Jason Rivera and fellow Officer Wilbert Mora were fatally shot Friday when a suspected gunman opened fire in a Harlem apartment, authorities said. Rivera died the night of the shooting, Mora days later.
The suspect, Lashawn McNeil, tried to run but was confronted and shot by a third officer on the scene and also died days later, police said.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams called Rivera a hero during his eulogy at Rivera’s funeral.
“We as a city, as a state, and as a nation — we say thank you, Jason. Today our hearts are with his beautiful family,” Adams said. “He’s a hero and our fellow New Yorkers acknowledge that.”
Adams said Rivera was the first person in his family to become a police officer and said he was an example of how first-generation New Yorkers and children of immigrants help shape the city.
“We care about each other — that’s what makes this city possible, along with the courage of officers like Jason Rivera. The hearts of 8.8 million people are reaching out in mourning today and we will ensure everything within our powers to not lose our family members through this senseless violence,” Adams said.
Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch also spoke at Rivera’s funeral and echoed Adams’ sentiments.
“He’s not a hero because of the way he died, he’s a hero because of the way he lived. He’s a hero not because he had a shield in his pocket, but because he had a shield in his soul,” Lynch said.
