A retired detective and neighbor of Officer Jonathan Diller has charged that Gov. Kathy Hochul , and liberal district attorneys and judges, have "blood on their hands,” as officials say the two men connected to Diller's fatal shooting during a traffic stop had at least 20 prior arrests.
Slain Officer’s Retired Detective Neighbor Slams New York Politicians and Judges
Michael Blangiforti, who served in the NYPD for 20 years, including in the 105th Precinct where Diller worked, said, "The inexplicable bail reform that’s in New York, combined with revolving door justice -- it simply makes no sense."

NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller was fatally shot Monday evening when he and his partner made contact with the occupants of an illegally parked vehicle.
NYPD/Facebook
Michael Blangiforti, who served in the NYPD for 20 years, including in the 105th Precinct where Diller worked, told Fox News Digital , "the inexplicable bail reform that’s in New York, combined with revolving door justice -- it simply makes no sense. There's no common sense behind the decision-making."
"This governor is awful," he said. In the wake of Diller’s death, Hochul released a statement that read, "I am heartbroken by the senseless killing of Officer Jonathan Diller tonight in Queens. My prayers are with his family, loved ones and the members of the NYPD. His heroism and service will never be forgotten."
But Blangiforti, who retired in 2008 as a detective squad commander, torched the governor’s response.
"That's a canned statement. Do you think she actually wrote it?" he told Fox News Digital. "Somebody in her staff wrote what you're supposed to write. I bet if you compared them side by side every time a tragedy happened, they all be identical. Oh, my thoughts and prayers are with the family. He's a hero and so forth and so on. Yet, you support the laws that allowed this to happen."
In addition to Diller’s slaying, Blangiforti cited the 2015 shooting death of Officer Brian Moore who also served in the 105th Precinct.
"It's very upsetting and something, something has to change because these, the DA's, the judges, they have blood on their hands, and nobody seems to call them out. Nobody seems to realize that they're the ones who are releasing these violent felons back on the street," Blangiforti said. "It’s unconscionable that somebody with 21 prior arrests, one for gun possession, one for armed robbery to gun, the gun charge was less than a year ago. And yet he's, you know, he's walking the streets, is not in prison and has a gun and seems to have no problem just shooting a cop."
More Patrol
Tips for Watching the Hands
How can officers better “watch the hands”? Mike Willis, Law Enforcement National Training and Program Director for the US Deputy Sheriff's Association, shares some tips.
Read More →10 Tips for Felony/High-Risk Stops
What steps can officers take to stay safer during felony or high-risk vehicle stops? Here are 10 tips from Mike Willis, Law Enforcement National Training and Program Director for the US Deputy Sheriff's Association.
Read More →
Amped Highlights Power Behind Amped FIVE Software
Amped FIVE empowers you to advance your investigations with confidence and precision, from the crime scene all the way to the courtroom.
Read More →
Police K-9 Killed, Suspect Dies in Shootout with Cops
A Burbank Police Department K-9 was fatally shot over the weekend by a passenger who fled on foot from a traffic stop. The armed suspect was killed in a shootout with officers.
Read More →From the Show Floor: InVeris
In this video, learn about how InVeris provides training to law enforcement, including customized augmented reality scenarios. The augmented reality system can scan up to 10,000 square feet of real-life environments and create a curriculum based on those spaces.
Read More →From the Show Floor: Polaris Government & Defense
Learn about Polaris Government & Defense in this video as POLICE visits their show booth to discover their side-by-sides and the advantages they provide for agencies.
Read More →
2026 Ford Pro™ Police & Special Service Vehicles Guide is Available for Download
Ford Pro™ meets the needs of law-enforcement agencies
Read More →
Dashcam Video Shows Officers Rescue Man from Burning Car
Dashcam video released by a New Jersey police department shows two of its officers rescuing an unconscious man from a burning car after a crash.
Read More →
Aimpoint COA optic + A-CUT Named Red Dot of the Year
The Aimpoint COA optic + A-CUT system has been named Red Dot of the Year by Guns & Ammo magazine. The new optic system was introduced in January 2025.
Read More →From the Show Floor: Axon
Join POLICE as we visit with Abi Stock, of Axon, to learn about the company’s latest technology offerings, such as Axon Assistant, Form One, and the DFR integration with Skydio.
Read More →
