Chief Jeff Maddrey heads up the NYPD’s Community Affairs Bureau.

NY1 spoke to him at his office at NYPD Police Headquarters in Lower Manhattan on Friday.

After 30 years with the department, however, Chief Maddrey would still rather be out and about in the community.

“This is what Community Affairs is all about going out into the community being a resource,” said Chief Maddrey.

He said, even with the pandemic, that his officers have been out working to build relationships between the public and NYPD.

What people may not realize, Maddrey said, is there isn’t always a camera there to document all the good things that they do to help the community and offer support.

“We’re bringing hundreds of boxes of food to families who have food insecurities,” Chief Maddrey said.

He is well aware that events around the country may not have happened in NYC but they may still have an impact on people’s perception of the NYPD.

“So I think when things happen in other states it kinda reminds people of some of the challenges we’ve had here in the past,” Chief Maddrey said.

He is open to hearing their input but admits some of what he’s seen and heard protestors say does hurt.

“This community deserves change, this community deserves a police department that treats them with respect and dignity, and this police department deserves a community that gives them the same thing right back,“ said Chief Maddrey.

In fact, since the protests last summer, he said the NYPD Community Affairs now plays an important role in ensuring that protestors can feel heard.

“We try to get before the protest even starts, we try to make a connection with people. It doesn’t always work. Some protestors don't want to talk to us,” said Chief Maddrey.

He said that arresting protestors is only a last resort and something they only pursue when they violate the rights of others.

“We are trying to use a high threshold to just show respect and empathy for our communities but there comes a time too when someone crosses the line and someone is harmed or something is destroyed we have to take action,” said Chief Maddrey.  

Chief Maddrey encourages those passionate about police reform to be part of the process.

The NYPD is currently hiring and members of the public can participate in a wide variety of events and forums, to make sure their concerns are addressed.

“The People’s Police Academy is a community based, a community centered training effort where members of the community actually train the police officers about their community,” said Chief Maddrey.

It’s those opportunities where he and members of the department try to build on the positive interactions that the public have with police.

“This is how the trust really is earned. The trust doesn’t come first, it’s getting to know each other and thats where the trust comes,” said Chief Maddrey.