All of this stemmed from a negative police encounter one of the children who participated in the conversation had earlier this year. 

Mason Washington, 11, says he was throwing out the garbage when several police officers pulled guns on him. 

Washington and his mother approached Maddrey at a unit rally in June outside the 88th Precinct and explained what happened - exchanging contact information with Washington. 

Two months later, he and several other children were invited to 1 Police Plaza for an open conversation. 

"It was just important to create this opportunity. To bring these families in just so they can realize there's so many good police officers who support them and want to work with them and want to bring value to them,” said Maddrey. 

Some of the children admitted that they didn’t like officers prior to the invitation. Washington and his mother say they are grateful.

However, Maddrey says the work does not stop here.

"I think we all walked out of here feeling a little bit better about this relationship police and community and we need more of this,” said Maddrey.