Institute History
Description
A Cops and Robbers Story is a feature documentary that weaves together interviews, archive and dramatisations to tell the story of Corey Pegues, a man who lived two separate lives on both sides of the law. His youth was spent selling crack for the Supreme Team. But when Corey found himself a father of two at 17 and faced with having to execute a gang rival he disappeared into the army. Seemingly a transformed man, he crossed over to the other side and started climbing the ranks of the NYPD. He eventually became deputy inspector and commander of one of the most violent precincts in the city - publicly lobbying for police reform and advocating community policing in a time when zero-tolerance policing was the norm. He became vocal about racism within the NYPD and tried to fight against police bias, guided by one principle “you can’t shoot your way out of policing.” The final thread of the story has just begun unraveling when retired Corey decided to reveal his past on the live podcast “The Combat Jack Show” (2014), and all hell broke loose. A media storm ensued, Corey became a "Thug Cop,” "Gangsta Cop,” a criminal in a cop's costume. NYPD sent 17 officers to his home and seized his firearms, revoked his "Good Guy" status and placed his pension under review. Corey’s 200 million lawsuit against the NYPD, the New York Post and Nassau County Police is pending.