Pastor Calls on NYPD's Kelly to Use 'Pulpit' to Help Stop Violence

Rev. Mark Taylor of Church of the Open Door is a veteran of the violent-prone sidewalks, project blocks and streets of Fort Greene, regularly counseling families of gang members and their victims alike as pastor of a small congregation tucked in the middle of Ingersoll, Whitman and Farragut houses.

So it came as something of a surprise for Taylor to hear New York Police Department commissioner against the recent spate of gun violence—especially since he helped organize to do just that.

"The commissioner cannot see what goes on in churches and in youth community groups," Taylor said. "He has to be careful about statements about things he doesn’t know anything about."

In a conversation with Patch last week, Taylor framed Kelly's comments—which came after a string of especially shocking incidents, including a at Bed-Stuy's Roosevelt Houses on July 9—in the context of what he called the community's "problematic" relationship, if not with individual officers, but with the NYPD as a whole.

"There are a lot of good officers who do good things for the community, don't get me wrong," he said. "But there seems to be a gap between the officers on the street and what we're hearing from up top."

Taylor joined other community leaders on April 2 for a Stop the Violence march held in the wake of the shooting deaths of Justin Cherry, 20, on March 6 and Jaquan Webb, 21, on March 20 in Fort Greene. 

As for whether residents—particularly young black males—heard Taylor and others' call that day is still a matter of debate.

Violent crime in the city's housing projects remains a big problem, with public housing residents baring most of the burden.

According to Kelly, 20 percent of all violent crimes occur in public housing even though NYCHA residents make up only 4 percent of the city's total population.

Which is partly why, Taylor said, the commissioner needed to do more to spread the non-violent message.

"I understand he’s frustrated with the level of violence. I am too," he said. "Many community leaders like me are speaking out ... but they don't have the pulpit he does. He needs to use it."