News 12 sat down with NYPD Chief Terence Monahan to look back at his decades in New York City and his efforts to reduce crime today.

Monahan first started out as a sergeant in the 46th Precinct in 1987. Thirty-two years later, he runs the department.

"Wild place back then – a lot of different than it is now," says Monahan. "I think the New York Times called it the most dangerous square mile in America."

Monahan says it was not unusual to hear a gunshot nearby. When he took over as commanding officer, there were 37 homicides. In 2018, he says there were nine, with 22 total shootings.

He credits the drop in crime to neighborhood policing. As Monahan leads the NYPD forward, he says he will make neighborhood policing a priority.

When asked about some criticism of the NYPD, Monahan says it is not all about the headlines, but what officers do every day. He encouraged people to get up and talk to their area police officers.