Former NYPD Youth Officer/Filmmaker: 'R. Kelly Needs to Face Justice!'

Kelli Cooper
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By Gary Glennell Toms

Kelli Cooper, also known as “KelliCgreen”, graduated from Far Rockaway High School in 1984 and continued her education at St. Francis College, where she earned a Bachelor of the Arts in Communications in 1989.

It was also in 1989 that she joined the New York Police Department (NYPD). In 1996, she was named Police Officer of the Year (for her outstanding commitment to the community and youth) and served in the Guardians Association, an organization within the NYPD consisting of Black law enforcement representatives. She was assigned to the 114th Precinct, in Astoria, where she worked as a Youth Officer and Explorer Advisor, a division of the Boy Scouts of America.  

Cooper's documentary film and her role in the NYPD's Explorer's Program were showcased in an April 1996 edition of the New York Daily News.

While employed with the NYPD, Cooper also served as founder, President, and CEO of Boedai Entertainment, where she co-produced the short film "Dear Momma" and the critically acclaimed “The Mission Is Possible: A Youth Awareness Documentary”. The second film, which was completed in 2002, featured four ex-cons, three males and one female, in rap sessions with at-risk youth and parents from Rockaway, New York.

Cooper collaborated with and met a number of celebrities while making "The Mission is Possible", including rap legend LL Cool J.

“The film centered on steering youth on the right track, avoiding a life of crime and encouraging youth to strive for positive goals,” said Cooper.

In 2009, after 20 years of dedicated service, Cooper retired from the NYPD.

Having worked with youth throughout her law enforcement career and in her documentary films, Cooper watched the Lifetime Network docu-series "Surviving R. Kelly" with great interest. "I followed the case very closely while working with the NYPD. I admit I was a big fan of R. Kelly,  but I was also very concerned about the allegations published in news reports over the last two decades. That's what prompted me to watch the docu-series," said Cooper. 

After viewing the series, Cooper revealed that she was enraged and completely stunned by the accounts of the women who claimed they were emotionally, physically and sexually abused by the music superstar. She also stated that she believes and supports the survivors. 

"As a former New York City police officer and former youth officer, I was appalled and sickened by the reports in the R. Kelly docu-series. Again, I have been a fan of R. Kelly for many years, but I had no idea how many women were tormented or how deranged he was," said the NYPD veteran. "These girls and their families will be traumatized for years, and I really hope it doesn't take decades for Kelly to go to prison, as was the case with Bill Cosby. Justice needs to be served, and it needs to be served swiftly. I believe the survivors, and if R. Kelly is eventually charged and convicted, that would be justice!"