There is a new chief in charge of mending the NYPD’s relationship with many New Yorkers.

Jeffery Maddrey, the newly appointed head of the Community Affairs Bureau says his officers can help to heal the city and reduce gun violence.

"We are messengers and what we are going to do is at the behest of the community. Stop the violence, put down the guns, let’s create these partnerships,” he said.

Maddrey made headlines in late May taking a knee with demonstrators protesting the death of George Floyd.

He assumed his new command two weeks ago as the number of shootings in the city began to soar.

Since then, Maddrey says he has been doing a lot of listening.

Asking community leaders about what they want to see from officers patrolling their neighborhoods.

"When we start understanding what everybody wants I think we can go out there together as a team and start getting these results,” said Maddrey.

The former commander of Brooklyn North reflected on his time there and the creative events his precincts organized to connect with the communities they protect and serve.

He added, while those events are fun and important, they need to be accompanied by conversations about the history of mistrust between communities of color and cops.

"These are the conversations that I am prepared to take on and that I will take on,” said Maddrey.

Maddrey has already had a few tough days speaking with families of shooting victims.

He talked about attending a vigil for 17-year-old basketball star Brandon Hendricks, who was shot dead in the Bronx.

"This boy was destined for greatness and I had to look his mother in the eyes last week. We have a common enemy, communities, cops, people everywhere, and that is gun violence and we have to work together to defeat that,” Maddrey said.

Maddrey says he knows it won’t be easy, but believes he can get the job done.