All this week, NY1 is celebrating Black History Month by saluting NYPD officers who are trying to strengthen police-community relations. NY1's Dean Meminger took a look at the career of the highest ranking African-American officer who now plans to help the community as a civilian. He filed this report.

To the very end of his of NYPD career, Chief Gerald Nelson was considered by many a real community officer. In fact, he views himself that way—saying officers need help.

"Don't get it twisted. No one can say the NYPD has done it by themselves, because if they'd say that, then they are missing something. We have fantastic communities," he says.

Surrounded by his community and fellow officers, Chief Nelson retired on Friday after 41 years, one day before his 63rd Birthday, which was on Valentine's Day.

"On behalf of the two million-some-odd Brooklynites, thank you, thank you for all that you have done," said Police Commissioner William Bratton at the ceremony.

Nelson became a housing officer back in 1973.  He rose through the ranks becoming the Commander of Brooklyn North in 2006, overseeing 10 precincts.    

"When I came on board in 2006, there were 140 homicides in the borough Brooklyn North. In 2014, we had 80 and it was the best year in recorded history," he says. 

He knows that's still far too many people murdered in the neighborhood where he grew up. But he says with officers and community together, crime and trust can improve. He admits stop-and-frisk was and can be a problem, however.

"In some of the commands that I have—where you have a lot of crime, a lot of violence—it lends itself to the overuse of stop-and-frisk. You'll have some commanders that have an issue...Maybe their robberies are up or their burglaries are up. They're pushing and trying to do the right thing," Nelson says.

Unnecessary stops of young, black men has brought a lot of heat on Chief Nelson, though.

"I've always worked hard with my community. I am answering their questions. I am out there. There have been times when things have happened in my borough because it is busy and it is active where i might have been on the ropes. But, I didn't have to shy away, I took my lumps, we've had our dialogue and we've bounced back," he says.

There's also been perks, including meeting the president—as well as Beyonce. He's also regional vice president of the National Organization of Law Enforcement Executives. 

After vacation, he says he'll get back to helping people.

"I would like to give back more to the community, work hard within the community and be there for them," Nelson says.

With that, he rode off in an old housing police cruiser to retirement.