By MOHAMED FARGHALY
mfarghaly@queensledger.com

 

Two probationary NYPD officers have been indicted on multiple charges, including
burglary, forcible touching, and official misconduct, following an investigation into
alleged misconduct while on duty in Jackson Heights.

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced on March 31 that Justin McMillan,
27, and Justin Colon, 24, both assigned to the 115th Precinct, face eight criminal
counts related to incidents that occurred on July 19 and 20, 2024. According to the
charges, the officers responded to a 311 call regarding prostitution at a residential
building on 89th Street.

Upon arrival, the officers allegedly deactivated their body-worn cameras before
interacting with a woman who had just exited the building. The officers are accused
of taking a key from the woman, which they used to return to the building hours
later.

Around eight hours later, McMillan and Colon allegedly entered the building using
the stolen key. Inside, they found a woman engaged in prostitution. After the man
involved fled the scene, McMillan is accused of stealing money from the woman’s
purse and groping her before she fled the location and called 911.

The officers did not report the incident or file any paperwork related to their
actions, and both were placed on modified duty in August 2024 after the
investigation began. They surrendered to the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau (IAB)
on Monday.

District Attorney Katz condemned the officers’ alleged actions, stating that the
charges represented a serious breach of public trust.

“The allegations in this case are an affront to the shield worn by the countless police
officers who serve and protect the residents of this city,” Katz said. “The defendants,
both sworn NYPD officers, are accused of using their authority to break into a
building, steal money and forcibly touch a woman while on duty, with their body-
worn cameras intentionally turned off so that their misdeeds would not be
recorded. I thank the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau for their crucial assistance in
bringing charges against the two defendants, both of whom are now indicted and
face justice in our courts.”

NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch also spoke out against the officers, emphasizing
the department’s commitment to holding officers accountable.

“Wearing the uniform of a New York City Police Officer is one of the highest
privileges in law enforcement, and the legitimacy of that work is based on the
public’s trust,” Tisch said. “So, when that trust is broken, as it was in this case, the
entire police department must answer for it. I want to thank the NYPD’s Internal
Affairs Bureau, the Queens District Attorney’s Office, and everyone else who worked
on this investigation. We hold our officers to the highest standard of professionalism
and integrity, and failing to meet that standard is disqualifying. Let me be perfectly
clear: Any officer who violates their oath will be investigated, exposed, and held
fully accountable. That standard will never change.”

McMillan and Colon face charges of burglary in the second and third degrees,
forcible touching, petit larceny, and official misconduct. If convicted of the top
charge, they could each face up to 15 years in prison.

Both officers were arraigned Monday and are due back in court on April 28. The
case is being prosecuted by the Queens District Attorney’s Office, with Assistant
District Attorney Christine Oliveri leading the prosecution.

McMillan, who joined the NYPD in April 2023, and Colon, who joined in July 2023,
were both stationed at the 115th Precinct after completing their training.

Former area councilmember and senator Hiram Monserrate expressed shock at the
indictment of two local NYPD officers, Justin McMillan and Justin Colon, who are
accused of using their authority to break into a building, steal money, and forcibly
touch a woman while on duty. Monserrate criticized the officers’ actions, which
allegedly took place on Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights, emphasizing the
disturbing erosion of trust in law enforcement due to the officers’ alleged

misconduct. He acknowledged that many local officers perform commendably but
stressed the need for integrity and accountability within the department.

“While we respect the presumption of innocence in our
judicial system, everyone is accountable before the law,” Monserrate said in a
statement. “This indictment will serve only to erode trust. I know many of our local
officers and I know they do great work, but this revelation is chilling. We need our
police officers to step up and for the Police Department to ensure integrity.”

Monserrate also highlighted the ongoing issues of prostitution and human
trafficking on Roosevelt Avenue, including frequent complaints about brothels and
street walkers in the area. He noted the community’s efforts to address these
problems through marches, rallies, and press conferences but stressed that the
situation remains a serious concern.

Quinten Jansen

 

A group of 30 high school students from Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School,
recently had the experience of visiting the NASA Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, the
only NASA-owned facility of its kind in the state. The trip marked the culmination of a four-
year journey that began with a classroom project measuring the tree height using various
NASA techniques, and ended with recognition and a chance to see science come to life.

The project began during the students’ freshman year under the guidance of the STEAM
Faculty coordinator Deanna Danke and with support from Brian Campbell, Senior Earth
Science Specialist and GLOBE Observer Trees Science Lead at NASA Wallops and GST,
Inc. Initially met with confusion especially on how math applied to tree measurements, the
students quickly discovered the real-world application of their studies. Using NASA’s
satellite-based methods, they measured the height and diameter of local trees to assess
environmental health and sent their data to NASA. They thought little of it until a paper was
published in June 2022 featuring their work.

NASA later invited them to create a digital reel about their research. The students kept in
close contact with NASA over the next four years, which eventually led to their trip to the
Wallops Flight Facility.

Senior Richard Stock IV, who joined the project later, said, “I found the project really
exciting. Everyone had their own role, and it felt great to contribute.” He was especially
fascinated by how NASA uses lasers to study precipitation and climate change. Chris
Georgeopoulos was captivated by the NASA balloons. “The ropes can carry up to 8,000
pounds. They send up cameras and microphones 30 miles into the atmosphere.” he said.

Sophomore Joseph Werner recalled a school presentation on climate change, where they
linked tree health to environmental conditions. He recommends the program to others for its
real-world learning. Thiago Costa, initially uninterested, discovered a passion through the
project. “Now I know what I’m interested in,” he shared.

For Jake Wood, the turning point was learning about NASA’s ICESat-2, which uses lasers to
map land and sea ice every 90 days. Santiago Uribe-Correro, inspired by Campbell’s
leadership, credited him with bringing the whole experience together.

The opportunity wasn’t always guaranteed. These seniors only learned of the trip during their
final year. Students like Brandon, were drawn by the chance to see rockets and to learn how
radar detects precipitation. Sebastian Leonowicz, who hopes to pursue engineering, loved
seeing the rocket assembly process firsthand. “I was expecting a lot, and NASA delivered,”
he said.

Through it all, these students not only learned math in a hands-on, meaningful way, they
shaped the direction of their own learning and saw how their efforts connected to global
scientific work. What started as a simple class project turned into a powerful journey fueled
by curiosity, collaboration, and a bit of rocket science.

Courtesy SHoP Architects, Field Operations

 

By MOHAMED FARGHALY
mfarghaly@queensledger.com

 

A transformative $8 billion infrastructure proposal, the Metropolitan Park
development, is making significant strides as New York Mets owner Steve Cohen and
Hard Rock International push forward with plans to reshape the area around Citi
Field in Queens. The ambitious project, which envisions a sprawling casino, hotel,
and entertainment complex, has been made possible by recent legislation
introduced by State Senator John Liu. The legislation allows for the use of parkland
surrounding Citi Field for the construction of the casino, hotel, and related facilities,
which has been a key hurdle for the project to move forward.

The project, which recently received approval from the City Council in a 41-2 vote,
has now cleared a major regulatory hurdle. In addition to this massive project is the
caveat of the creation of the Flushing Skypark, a pedestrian and bicycle bridge that
will span Flushing Creek and connect downtown Flushing to Willets Point. Liu has
emphasized the importance of community connectivity and infrastructure
improvements, which have become a focal point of the project. The Skypark,
inspired by Manhattan’s High Line, will not only serve as a crossing but also a
destination, featuring recreational spaces, public areas, and flexible hubs for
community gatherings.

Senator Liu, who has long been an advocate for expanding Queens’ pedestrian and
bicycle infrastructure, believes that the Skypark will help address gaps in the
borough’s connectivity while also providing a vibrant public space.

“It’s going to be esthetically attractive, it’s environmentally sound, and it would not
only be a way for people to get to and from either side of the Flushing Creek, but it

would also instead be its own destination, because it’ll have space for people to hang
out, to congregate, to rest, whatever people would do in an actual park.”

Courtesy Community Board 7

As part of the project’s development, Liu is introducing legislation that will allow for
the use of the land surrounding Citi Field for the construction of a casino, hotel, and
related facilities. The legislation is seen as a necessary step for Cohen to submit his
application to the Gaming Commission for approval to build the casino. Liu,
however, made it clear that his support is not an endorsement of the casino itself
but rather a way to ensure that the broader project, including infrastructure
improvements like the Skypark, moves forward.

“My bill allows his application to move forward and there are potential benefits that
would come to the community if he were to win the casino proposal, but without
this legislation, he can’t even submit the proposal,” Liu said.

The Metropolitan Park project has drawn mixed reactions, with some local residents
and advocacy groups expressing concerns over the impact of the casino on their
communities. Critics argue that it will contribute to displacement, increase traffic
congestion, and privatize public parkland.

In response, Cohen and Hard Rock International have committed to ensuring that
community benefits are a key part of the project, including a binding agreement
with the Waterfront Alliance, a regional community organization. If for any reason
the Flushing Skypark cannot be completed, Cohen and Hard Rock have pledged to
allocate $100 million for infrastructure improvements at Flushing Meadows Corona
Park.

“As I have made abundantly clear for more than a year, the Metropolitan Park plan is
a grand slam for Northwest Queens — a region of our borough that has historically
been minimized, marginalized and maligned,” Queens Borough President Donovan
Richards Jr said. “In a time of growing economic uncertainty, this revolutionary
project would create 23,000 good-paying union jobs, unlocking new levels of
upward mobility for families across Corona, Flushing and beyond. Meanwhile, a
nine-figure community improvement fund, a 25-acre park, a Queens-specific food
hall that will boost countless local small businesses will generate positive outcomes
for generations of area families.”

Courtesy Fed Up Coalition

Despite these promises, community opposition has been vocal. Local groups have
raised concerns about the potential harm the casino could bring to the
neighborhood, particularly regarding economic exploitation and the social impacts

of gambling. Residents from Flushing, Corona, Jackson Heights, and East Elmhurst
have rallied together at the end of March to oppose the project, urging Governor
Kathy Hochul to reject the idea of casino development on public parkland.

“A casino at Citi Field will only make things worse,” long-time Corona resident
Marilyn Mendoza said. “We already deal with unbearable traffic and parking issues
every time there’s a game at the stadiums, and with a new stadium being built
against our community’s wishes, we are being ignored yet again. Adding a casino on
top of that will increase congestion, drive up rents, and bring more harm than good.
Instead of a casino that preys on our community, we need real
investments—affordable housing, good jobs, and resources that help families thrive.
I urge our leaders to listen to us and put our community first. We deserve better.”

Environmental groups have also voiced opposition, arguing that the development
threatens the area’s public parkland and fails to address crucial climate resilience
issues. Rebecca Pryor, Executive Director of the Guardians of Flushing Bay,
emphasized that the project’s proposal would privatize significant portions of public
land, limiting access to park spaces that are essential for local residents.

“The proposed project is for Flushing Meadows Corona Park, which is formed in the
path of Flushing Creek and one of the most flood-prone parks in the city”, said
Rebecca Pryor, the Executive Director of the Guardians of Flushing Bay. “Any
development in an NYC public park should be a meaningful investment in the city’s
public parkland. Queens Future’s Vegas-like casino fails this basic requirement

“For the City of New York to allow such an entity on public land is unacceptable,”
Memo Salazar, Board Co-Chair of the Western Queens Community Land Trust said.
“The precious few parcels of public land left in this city should be used to address
the many dire needs New Yorkers- and Queens residents in particular- face: open
space, community centers, and truly affordable housing, to name a few.”

For more details, readers can visit queensforall.com to access resources and support
those opposing the Metropolitan Park project.

Despite these concerns, Liu has stood firm in his belief that the Metropolitan Park
project, particularly the Skypark, can provide long-term benefits for Queens,
creating new public spaces while enhancing connectivity.

“Senator Liu has been a champion for infrastructure and a lifelong advocate for
Flushing. As an organization based in Willets Point, we shared the community’s

concerns around connectivity and recognized that the Skypark would be a great way
to bring Queens together,” said New York Mets owner Steve Cohen. “Metropolitan
Park is committed to working to make Flushing Skypark a reality. And if for any
reason we cannot, then we will still follow through on our commitment to the
community by dedicating $100 million to the betterment of Flushing Meadows
Corona Park.”