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Career
Corey Pegues, a Queens New York native has gone from Poverty to Prime Time. Corey recently partnered with Court TV as a weekly analyst offering expert insight on a range of topics, weighing in on the nation’s most compelling trials and cases. His expertise covers the world of crime and justice while informing the public and breaking down the most complex cases. This expertise comes from a highly decorated career in law enforcement.
His career spans over two decades and speaks for itself. Immediately, after graduating high school, in Queens New York, he enlisted in the United States Army where he served almost four years as a Medical Specialist, until the end of his enlistment in March 2001. After his honorable discharge from the Army, he enlisted in the New York State National Guard, where he spent the next 14 years of his military career. Subsequent to his discharge from the Army, Corey entered the N.Y.C. Police Academy in January 1992.
Upon graduation from the academy, he was assigned to the 114th Precinct, located in Astoria, Queens. After only five and a half years, Corey was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Shortly thereafter, Corey received several more promotions over the next few years, resulting in him being promoted to the executive rank of Captain in 2005. Eighteen month later, Corey received a discretionary promotion to the rank of Deputy Inspector from the Police Commissioner. During his career Corey commanded some of the most violent precincts in the City of New York and was successful in reducing crime each year he was in command.
After a stellar career, Corey retired in good standing in March 2013 completing 21 years of service. After his retirement Corey decided to write a memoir of his life and in May 2016 his book Once A Cop – The Street, The Law, Two Worlds, One Man was published on Simon and Schuster imprint Atria Books. His book details his life of growing up selling drugs as a teenager in Queens, NY to his meteoric rise in the NYPD. He also details his stint in the military and how a misguided young man picked himself up by his bootstraps and made the right choice to change his life. Corey has made guest appearances on several television and syndicated radio talk shows including but not limited to The Oprah Winfrey Network Show, Fix My Life with Iyanla Vansant, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, The Reverend Al Sharpton Show, The Roland Martin Show, MSNBC, CSPAN, CNN, Al Jazeera America, ARISE America, ARISE 360, RT Today, The Michael Baisden Show, WPIX Channel 11, NY 1, News 12 Long Island, NPR, The Combat Jack Show, 1010 Wins, Hot 97 Street Soldiers with Lisa Evers, Hot 97 Ebro In The Morning Show and BET.com to talk about his life story. Additionally, Corey has appeared in several documentaries to discuss his life experiences such as Crack: Cocaine, Corruption & Conspiracy on Netflix, and Supreme Team on Showtime.
Recently, in movie theaters nationwide Corey starred in a documentary, “A Cops and Robbers Stories” directed by Illinca Calugareanu and Produced by Mara Adina. The documentary details events in his life in the 1980s. Corey Pegues was embroiled in a life of crime as a member of New York City’s infamous Supreme Team gang. The documentary chronicles his rise in the NYPD after a near- death gang confrontation. Corey is a public speaker who advocates for police reform and a plethora of other topics that directly impact the community. He is a community activist. As the former President and Founder of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) Long Island Chapter, and advisor to other professional affiliations, Corey has organized various community events such as Christmas Toy Drives, Back to School Giveaways and Thanksgiving Food Drives to name a few. In addition, he has held a leading role in organizing events to raise money to support local schools. Corey has also fought for the rights of others, in making sure that their civil liberties are being protected.
Corey’s reach has extended throughout the community even within schools as he facilitates My Brother’s Keeper’s Program in which he consistently gives back to the youth. Corey believes that today’s scholars are tomorrows leaders, so he has dedicated his time in becoming a My Brother’s Keeper Mentor to build the Social Emotional Learning of students across school districts nationwide. He provides mentoring supports to School Administration, Staff, and students so that he is investing in young boys of color to ensure their success. Corey is a graduate of St. Josephs College with a B.S. in Organizational Management, an M.P.S. in Criminal Justice Leadership from St. John’s University and has a Post Graduate Certificate from the Police Management Institute at Columbia University.