Corey 's Corner

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On this episode of Corey’s Corner, retired NYPD executive Corey Pegues  sits down with business leader, real estate professional, and longtime public servant Gian A. Jones for a candid conversation about politics, business, leadership, and community.

With more than 25 years in real estate and finance and over $500 million in transactions and loan workouts, Gian shares how growing up in a single-parent household helped shape his approach to business and public service.

Fresh off his experience in the race for Congress, Gian gets real about what he learned from stepping into the political arena, the realities of today’s Democratic Party, affordable housing, public safety, economic opportunity, political division, and what it will take to restore trust in government.

Corey asks the tough questions—and Gian doesn’t shy away from them.

Right Conversations. Right People. Right Impact. This is Corey’s Corner.

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What does it take to lead one of New York City’s most diverse communities?

On this episode of Corey’s Corner, retired NYPD Deputy Inspector Corey Pegues sits down with New York City Council Member Ty Hankerson, who represents Council District 28, known as “The Great 28”, serving South Jamaica, South Richmond Hill, Rochdale Village, and South Ozone Park.

Born and raised in Southeast Queens, Council Member Hankerson shares his journey from the 106th Precinct Law Enforcement Explorers and nonprofit youth leadership to organizing the nationally recognized Code Black protest and ultimately serving in the New York City Council.

Whether you live in Queens, work in public service, or simply care about the future of New York City, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

🎙 Subscribe to Corey’s Corner for conversations with today’s leaders, innovators, law enforcement professionals, elected officials, and community changemakers.

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In this powerful and emotional episode of Corey’s Corner, retired NYPD executive Corey Pegues sits down with Demitri McKay Sr., a father whose son, Demitri McKay Jr., was tragically killed by a stray bullet in Queens.

Demitri Jr. was more than a headline. He was a son, a father, an MTA bus driver, a man of faith, and a peacemaker deeply loved by his family and community. In this conversation, Mr. McKay opens up about the pain of losing a child, the impact of gun violence on families, the grief that continues behind closed doors, and the strength it takes to speak about forgiveness while still searching for justice.

This episode is a father’s testimony, a call for accountability, and a reminder that every life lost to gun violence leaves behind a family, a child, and a legacy that must never be forgotten.

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For decades, Wayne Preston Harris and Elliot T. Boyce, Sr. dedicated their careers to protecting communities, building trust, and leading within law enforcement. Combined, they bring more than 70 years of public safety experience to one of today’s most controversial public policy issues, the rise of illegal and unauthorized vaping products in America.

In this special episode of Corey’s Corner, retired Rochester Police Deputy Chief Wayne Preston Harris and retired New York State Trooper Elliot T. Boyce, Sr. sits down with host retired NYPD Executive Corey Pegues to discuss the growing illicit vape market, the challenges facing law enforcement, youth access, organized crime, consumer safety, and why distinguishing between FDA-authorized products and illegal products matters.

Whether you’re a policymaker, law enforcement professional, parent, educator, retailer, or simply interested in understanding the vaping debate, this episode provides a thoughtful discussion from two respected leaders who have spent their careers protecting the public.

Subscribe to Corey’s Corner for in-depth conversations with leaders shaping today’s biggest issues.

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What happens when a paintbrush becomes a tool for healing, leadership, and community transformation?

On this episode of Corey’s Corner, host Corey Pegues retired NYPD executive sits down with Kenny Altidor, Haitian-American mural artist, community advocate, former Brooklyn Ambassador, and former New York City Council candidate for a powerful conversation about purpose, perseverance, and public service.

Kenny shares his remarkable journey from immigrating to New York at 16 years old to becoming one of Brooklyn’s most respected artists and community leaders. For more than two decades, he has transformed walls into powerful works of art that honor fallen NYPD officers, FDNY firefighters, correction officers, community icons, and cultural legends.

This is more than a conversation about art it’s about legacy, service, and the power of one person to inspire an entire community.

If you enjoy meaningful conversations about leadership, public service, community empowerment, and inspiring life stories, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with your family and friends.

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What happens when a young Black man from Brownsville, Brooklyn, who was arrested at 16, grows up to become one of the NYPD’s most accomplished detectives?

In this powerful episode of Corey’s Corner, retired NYPD Detective First Grade Harold Thomas shares his extraordinary journey from the streets of Brownsville, Bedford-Stuyvesant, and East New York to serving nearly 30 years in the New York City Police Department.

Thomas opens up about growing up without a father, surviving the streets, experiencing racism inside and outside the department, and fighting to earn a place in the NYPD after an investigator tried to block his career before it even began.

He discusses his rapid rise through the ranks, service in elite investigative units and federal task forces, and the life-changing 2011 shooting that left him hospitalized for two months and in rehabilitation for three years.

This is a raw and unfiltered conversation about race, policing, survival, accountability, and what has—and hasn’t—changed in America over the last four decades.

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What does it take to rise from an undercover narcotics officer in Brooklyn to the highest uniformed rank in the NYPD?

On this episode of Corey's Corner, retired NYPD Deputy Inspector Corey Pegues sits down with former NYPD Chief of Department and former Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison for an honest and wide-ranging conversation about leadership, policing, public trust, crime reduction, and the future of law enforcement.

Commissioner Harrison reflects on his 32-year law enforcement career, including surviving a life-threatening undercover shooting, becoming the first Black Chief of Detectives in NYPD history, leading more than 35,000 officers during the COVID-19 pandemic, and overseeing the task force that helped solve the notorious Gilgo Beach serial killings investigation.

The conversation also tackles police reform, community relations, political pressure, officer morale, crime trends, and the rumors surrounding Harrison's potential role in the Mamdani administration.

This is a must-watch conversation for anyone interested in public safety, leadership, criminal justice, and the future of American policing.

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On this episode of Corey’s Corner, retired NYPD executive Corey Pegues sits down with Alicka Ampry-Samuel, Deputy Commissioner at the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, for a real conversation on housing, leadership, and community impact.

Raised in NYCHA’s Marcus Garvey Houses in Brownsville, Brooklyn, Alicka brings lived experience to her role, leading efforts to protect and preserve affordable housing across New York City.

From serving on the New York City Council to overseeing regional operations at HUD, her journey is rooted in service, and a deep commitment to uplifting underserved communities.

We talk about the realities of affordable housing, the gap between policy and people, and what it truly takes to create change from the inside.

This isn’t just about housing it’s about legacy, leadership, and lifting communities forward.

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What does it mean to lead when you’re being challenged from every direction?

In this powerful episode of Corey’s Corner, retired NYPD executive sits down with Keith Saunders, Principal of Roosevelt High School, founder of S.O.N.I.A.Y., and author of Roosevelt to the Hamptons: The War on Both Sides.

With over 30 years in education, Saunders opens up about the reality of navigating leadership as a Black man in divided spaces, facing internal struggles within the community while also confronting systemic racism and bias outside of it.

This conversation dives deep into:

• Growing up in segregated Long Island

• The truth behind the “war on both sides”

• Leadership under pressure and public perception

• The challenges of being a Black educator in America

• Building and empowering the next generation

This isn’t just a conversation, it’s the right, unfiltered look at identity, purpose, and what it takes to lead with conviction.

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On this episode of Corey’s Corner, retired NYPD Deputy Inspector Corey Pegues sits down with Carrié Solages for a powerful conversation about leadership, legacy, and fighting for the people.

From growing up in Elmont to serving six terms in the Nassau County Legislature, Solages opens up about his journey through law, public service, and politics. The conversation explores his work advocating for community-centered development, improving infrastructure, supporting public safety, and making government more accessible to everyday residents.

He also reflects on family legacy and what it meant for his family when his sister, Michaelle C. Solages, became the first person of Haitian descent elected to the New York State Assembly.

This episode dives into community empowerment, representation, leadership under pressure, and the responsibility that comes with public office.

Right conversation. Right impact. This is Corey’s Corner.

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