Matthew Muraskin, Port Jefferson, NY, for appellant.

Timothy D. Sini, District Attorney, Riverhead, NY (Lauren Tan, Guy Arcidiacono, and Glenn Green of counsel), for respondent.

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the County Court, Suffolk County (John B. Collins, J.), rendered June 6, 2018, convicting him of attempted aggravated murder of a police officer, aggravated assault of a police officer, and attempted aggravated assault of a police officer (three counts), upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.

Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.

Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution (see People v Contes, 60 NY2d 620, 621 [1983]), we find that it was legally sufficient to establish, beyond a reasonable doubt, the defendant's guilt of attempted aggravated murder of a police officer (see People v Leftenant, 173 AD3d 1211, 1211 [2019]).

Moreover, in fulfilling our responsibility to conduct an independent review of the weight of the evidence (see CPL 470.15 [5]; People v Danielson, 9 NY3d 342 [2007]), we nevertheless accord great deference to the jury's opportunity to view the witnesses, hear the testimony, and observe their demeanor (see People v Mateo, 2 NY3d 383, 410 [2004]; People v Bleakley, 69 NY2d 490, 495 [1987]). Upon reviewing the record here, we are satisfied that the verdict of guilt was not against the weight of the evidence (see People v Romero, 7 NY3d 633 [2006]). Contrary to the defendant's contention, he failed to meet his burden of proving the affirmative defense of mental disease or defect by a preponderance of the evidence (see Penal Law §§ 25.00 [2]; 40.15; cf. People v Hernandez-Beltre, 157 AD3d 814, 816 [2018]). Rivera, J.P., Cohen, Hinds-Radix and Iannacci, JJ., concur.