Funeral for NYPD Detective Jason Rivera held at St. Patrick's Cathedral
NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- A solemn final farewell was held Friday morning for the first of two police officers murdered in the line of duty.
A police presence was already in place before dawn outside St. Patrick's Cathedral for the funeral of NYPD Officer Jason Rivera.
Friday marks the second day of services for the officer. His remains were escorted into the cathedral on Thursday, wrapped in a green and white NYPD flag.
He was just 22 years old, and he only joined the force last year. The NYPD rookie was just starting life. He just got married in October.
His widow Dominique delivered a moving eulogy for her husband, which recounted their last day together. They had a fight that morning about him using his work phone when they were together, but theirs was a love story that began in elementary school.
Watch Dominique Luzuriaga's full eulogy
"Today I'm still in this nightmare that I wish I never had, full of rage and anger, hurt, sad, and torn. Although I gained thousands of blue brothers and sisters, I'm the loneliest without you," she said.
Directing her emotions at the new Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, she said, "The system continues to fail us. We are not safe anymore, not even members of service. I know you were tired of these laws, especially from ones from the new DA. I hope he is watching you speak through me right now. I'm sure all of our blue family is tired too. But I promise your death won't be in vain. We'll take the watch from here."
Mayor Eric Adams, also delivered a moving eulogy. The mayor called Officer Rivera a hero, and apologized to his family.
"Today we salute police officer Jason Rivera for the last time," said Adams. "His journey by our side has ended. He takes another path."
The mayor and Rivera's widow's eulogies were two of seven.
Eulogies were also delivered by Police Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell, Inspector Amir Yakatally, PBA President Patrick J. Lynch, Rev. Jonathan J. Recabarren, and Jason's older brother, Jeffrey Rivera.
In addition, Police Commissioner Sewell posthumously promoted Rivera to detective, presenting the shield to his family in a solemn tradition of NYPD funerals.
"Jason rose to every challenge that crossed his path," said Sewell. "He was everything the city and the NYPD needed him to be. And it is with sincere admiration and appreciation that I promote him today to Detective First Grade."
Officer Rivera's partner, Officer Wilbert Mora, was killed in the same ambush last Friday in Harlem.
They were responding to a domestic violence call.
Officer Mora's viewing and funeral will take place at St. Patrick's next Tuesday and Wednesday.
Friday's funeral was open only to invited guests, but the public was invited to pay tribute as Officer Rivera's remains were taken to a cemetery in Westchester County across various overpasses in Yonkers.
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