NYPD Hero Officer Gerard Carter Community Center Subcontract Awarded To Cop-Killer Sympathizers?
Widow Jozette Carter-Williams 'Incensed' With 'Anti-NYPD' NYC Council Member Kamillah Hanks, True2Life Organization For City Contracts at Center Bearing Slain Husband's Name
By M. Thomas Nast and Frankie Pressman
A New York City decision to award a subcontract to True2Life Organization for programming at the Gerard Carter Community Center has sparked outrage. The organization’s principals, Malcolm Penn and Mike Perry, supported by NYC Councilmember Kamillah Hanks, have engaged in controversial actions and advocacy.
Last year, Penn and Perry publicly supported the parole of Shatiek Johnson, who murdered NYPD Officer Gerard Carter in 1998. Now, they want to offer programming in the Stapleton, Staten Island community center that bears his name.
An ‘Incensed’ NYPD Widow
Cop-killer Shatiek Johnson was ultimately denied parole last year. But the recent political maneuverings have re-dredged deep frustration for Jozette Carter-Williams, the widow of Officer Carter.
"I support second chances. And I will support Shatiek Johnson's parole the day after my son has a chance to hug his father again," she said.
Carter-Williams is vehemently opposed to the True2Life Organization providing programming at the NYCHA Stapleton Public Housing Development community facility.
"I am incensed at the sentiments of the current councilmember and her selected associates, the True2Life Organization, which is anti-police and anti-NYPD and their families. When Gerard was murdered over twenty-five years ago, he was not posthumously promoted to detective grade, as is the current practice. His legacy is that building, and he would not want children and families being taught anti-police hatred in a place that bears his name," she said.
Officer Gerard Carter, born in West Brighton and raised in Mariners Harbor, was the son of a police officer. He played football for the Port Richmond Red Raiders. Outside his patrol duties in West Brighton, Carter coached a youth softball league in Stapleton and Clifton, participated in the NYPD’s youth explorers program, and assisted with community cookouts.
In 1995, Carter was honored for arresting a knife-wielding robber targeting senior citizens in the Stapleton Houses. Throughout his career, he received two Excellent Police Duty Awards and maintained a spotless service record. He was known as an exemplary officer and community member.
On July 26, 1998, while on duty in a marked NYPD van at the West Brighton Houses, Carter was brutally shot and killed by Shatiek Johnson. Carter succumbed to his injuries days later. Former PBA President Patrick Lynch described the killing as a "cold-blooded assassination," stating that Carter was targeted simply for wearing an NYPD uniform.
At the time of his death, Carter was part of the Housing’s Safe Home Impact Team, which included bike-patrol officers focusing on public housing developments and narcotics offenses. He was known for his efforts to uplift his neighborhood and was seen as a role model.
Controversial Affiliations
The Gerard Carter Community Center in Stapleton opened in 2011 and is a monument to Carter’s life and service. However, the recent decision to involve True2Life in the center’s programming threatens to overshadow the hero officer’s legacy.
True2Life is part of the New York City Crisis Management System, aiming to reduce violence through a public health approach. The organization treats violence as a learned behavior that can be mitigated using disease control methods.
However, True2Life has faced criticism not only for its parole advocacy for cop killers but also for its controversial affiliations. Malcolm Penn, one of its principals, previously supported John Pena, a former gang member released from prison after 15 years. Pena was soon after arrested by the Federal authorities for his involvement in three gang-related murders. He remains in federal custody at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center awaiting trial.
The indictment against Pena, known as “Tragedy” or “Money Baggz,” details his leadership of the Gorilla Stone Mafia, a subgroup of the Bloods street gang. The charges include murder, firearm offenses, and drug trafficking. Pena allegedly murdered a rival gang member, Mark Bajandas, in a brazen public shooting.
Breon Peace, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, emphasized the gravity of the charges.
“As alleged, the defendant, a leader of a violent street gang, unleashed a barrage of gunfire on a public street, killing the victim and placing our community in grave danger,” he said.
Peace added that the prosecution aims to neutralize the threat posed by gang members like Pena. FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Michael J. Driscoll echoed these sentiments, highlighting the lack of respect for human life demonstrated by gang violence.
“The elimination of violent street gangs is an absolute precondition to the sustainable prosperity and justice that New Yorkers deserve,” added the former NYPD Commissioner at the time of the Pena arrest.
Community Questions
The broader question asked by many is how a group like the True2Life Organization, which has a checkered track record, can be awarded NYC contracts to stop gang violence.
“When Debi [Rose] was here, we didn’t have to worry that the foxes were in the henhouse. Now, we have an invisible councilwoman who hands the keys over to Bloods sympathizers,” said a Stapleton Houses resident who wished to remain unnamed for fear of NYCHA retaliation.
The backlash against True2Life’s involvement at the Gerard Carter Community Center reflects broader tensions between community initiatives and their perceived affiliations. Jozette Carter-Williams remains steadfast in her position that community programs align with core values.
"Gerard would not want children and families being taught anti-police hatred in a place that bears his name," she reiterated, calling for a reassessment of the decision and a return to the values her late husband stood for.
The community remains divided over the decision to engage True2Life at a center named after an officer who gave his life in service.
When asked for help, Assemblyman Charles Fall confirmed to Jozette Carter-Williams that the issue was a City matter. Councilmember Hanks’ Office has failed to return numerous calls from the widow.
A source close to the local Republican Party says Congresswoman Malliotakis just learned about the prospective subcontract and is “furious.” The source says the Congresswoman’s Office is taking “immediate action.”
We asked for clarification from the CEO of the New York City Housing Authority and the Department of Youth and Community Development. As of press time the NYC Press Office asked for an “extension” for publication. We held off for 1 hour, but we received no answers. Our request is published below.
From: Modern Thomas Nast <mthomasnast@protonmail.com>
Date: On Thursday, May 30th, 2024 at 10:28 AM
Subject: NYC Gerard Carter Center Subcontract Awarded to Cop Killer Sympathizers?
To: lisa.bova-hiatt@nycha.nyc.gov <lisa.bova-hiatt@nycha.nyc.gov>, kehoward@dycd.nyc.gov <kehoward@dycd.nyc.gov>
CC: ralafontaine@protonmail.com <ralafontaine@protonmail.com>, frankiepressman@protonmail.com <frankiepressman@protonmail.com>, bluelivesmatternyc@gmail.com <bluelivesmatternyc@gmail.com>, jnuthall@nycpba.org <jnuthall@nycpba.org>, phendry@nycpba.org <phendry@nycpba.org>
Dear CEO Bova-Hiatt and Commissioner Howard,We are investigative reporters running an article about the YMCA being "pushed" by NYC Council Member Kamillah Hanks to award a subcontract to administer programming at the murdered hero NYPD Officer Gerard Carter Center in the NYCHA Stapleton Public Housing Development on Staten Island to Penn and Perry, Inc.
The principals of Penn and Perry, Inc., and specifically Malcom Perry, have gone on record to support the parole of Shatiek Johnson, Officer Carter's murderer.
We spoke with Jozette Carter-Williams, widow of Officer Carter, and the family is incensed that this is even being considered. Mrs. Carter-Willams says she reached out to numeorus contact points in City government to no avail. She also spoke to Assemblman Fall, who confirmed that the issue was a City government issue. Numerous attempts to contact Council Member Kamillah Hanks and her offices have gone unanswered.
What is the official position of NYCHA and/or the Department of Youth and Community Development on this matter?
Do you have any further comment or information that we may relay to the family.
We intend to go to press by noon today.
Regards,
Modern Thomas Nast
We will update the story with further information as it becomes available.