It was a gut-wrenchingly beautiful eulogy that NYPD Officer Jason Rivera’s widow, Dominique Luzuriaga, delivered today at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

They were newlyweds. Dominique is twenty years old and is dealing with the pain and anguish of having to say goodbye to her husband whom she’s known since grade school. 

Officer Jason Rivera was a rookie police officer. He decided to join the NYPD even as progressive leftist politicians such as Bill de Blasio, Andrew Cuomo and many more across the country were spending hours vilifying cops and working hard to defund the police. But Jason Rivera, in his letter to the commanding officer of the police academy, had a better idea.

“Coming from an immigrant family, I will be the first to say that I am a member of the NYPD, the greatest police force in the world,” Rivera wrote.

The earnest “Why I Became a Police Officer” letter detailed how Rivera once watched his brother get stopped and frisked after they were pulled over in a taxi, and said that at the time, his “perspective on police and the way they police really bothered me.”

“Growing up in Inwood, Manhattan, the community’s relationship between the police and community was not great,” Rivera wrote. “I was too young to know that during that time, the NYPD was pulling over and frisking people at a high rate.”

Rivera said he then watched the department “pushing hard” to change its policies and improve its relationship with the community.

“This was when I realized that I wanted to be a part of the men in blue: [to] better the relationship between the community and the police.”

Rivera said that he believed he could make a difference as a member of the force in “this chaotic city.”

This is the man Dominique grew up with. This is the man she married. This is the man, the COP, one of New York’s absolute finest, who was shot and killed by someone who should’ve been in jail. 

Dominique is understandably shattered and heartbroken. The moving tributes and the pictures she posted of their wedding made this writer’s room incredibly dusty. 

As she and her family work through their grief, it certainly doesn’t help that politicians such as Mayor Eric Adams blame the gun instead of the criminal. It certainly doesn’t help that progressive and very lenient policies had that criminal out and roaming free. Nor does it help that the new Manhattan DA, Alvin Bragg, wants to implement even MORE lenient policies, all in the name of “progress.” Much of which is also contributing to the wave of violence against cops all across the United States. 

Across the country, from California to New York and Wisconsin to Alabama, more than 15 law enforcement officers have been shot so far in the first month of 2022. The attacks have been happening on average every-other-day in January, with six shot in just one recent 48-hour period. Being attacked on-duty and off, officers continue to be targeted by lawless individuals at an alarming rate.

Today was Officer Jason Rivera’s funeral service. Cops from all over the world turned out in support of the Rivera family and in support of the NYPD. 

https://twitter.com/DanaPerino/status/1487116098143150081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1487116098143150081%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitchy.com%2Fdougp-3137%2F2022%2F01%2F28%2Fwidow-of-slain-nypd-officer-calls-out-manhattan-d-a-and-city-leaderships-crime-insanity%2F

The service itself was incredibly moving. Thousands were there both inside and outside St. Patrick’s Cathedral in support, including many politicians as well as Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg. And all listened as Dominique delivered her moving eulogy to her husband. 

As Luzuriaga delivered the emotionally charged remarks, Bragg was in the audience listening, law enforcement sources said. He also attended Rivera’s wake Thursday night but his family walked into the back so they didn’t have to sit with him and later in the evening, someone told the embattled DA that the family wouldn’t be coming out until he left.

Can you blame the family? I certainly don’t. Progressive leftist policies that embolden criminals led to their son, brother, cousin, and husband getting killed. It is, perhaps that, that led to Dominique not only telling the heart-wrenching story of how their last words to each other were an argument, but of calling out Bragg for his policies. 

Dominique is only twenty years old and is dealing with unimaginable pain. Yet even she knew that these policies that give leniency to criminals and vilify cops is wrong. 

“You have the whole nation on gridlock. And although you won’t be here anymore, I want you to live through me. The system continues to fail us. We are not safe anymore, not even the members of the service [NYPD]. I know you were tired of these laws, especially the ones from the new DA. I hope he is watching you speak through me,” applause interrupted Luzuriaga then, and one by one, members of the audience stood up and continued clapping.

“I’m sure all of our blue family is tired, too. But 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,” Luzuriaga concluded, and as they applauded, everyone stood again.

Cops all over this country deserve and NEED our support now more than ever.

I know for a fact if I was in her shoes I would honor my husband but I would also be calling every single politician out by name who was responsible for his death. Every. Single. One.

We will keep watch, Officer Rivera. https://t.co/tLMRb5p5IG

— Brielle Ann (@brielleann) January 28, 2022

The city of New York lost two very exceptional men, Officer Jason Rivera and Officer Wilbert Mora (whose organ donations gave new life to five people). Now their families and the NYPD mourn. 

We are grateful and thankful for men such as these, and for the strength and courage of their families. May their memories be a blessing and may good come from tragedy. 

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Feature Photo Credit: NYPD police cruiser via Pixabay, cropped and modified