With tensions running high across the city and country between police and black Americans, the NYPD held an event this week aimed at easing fears. NY1 Criminal Justice Reporter Dean Meminger says there were plenty of positive interactions.

Thousands of kids joined police officers at The Bronx's annual NYPD Harmony Day Picnic, an effort to bring police and communities closer.

"Sadly, there is so much bad going on, we just want a day where we can celebrate," City Councilor Vanessa Gibson of The Bronx said. "We want to make sure that these are the types of moments that we really celebrate as a positive engagement."

NYPD Harmony Picnics have been going on across the city for years. This Bronx gathering was planned long before the high-profile shooting deaths of black men and police officers across the country this month.

For some of the young adults who attended the Bronx event, many said they respect officers but are still fearful.

"Since the past stuff that has been going on, I do get a little edgy around cops because you don't know what could happen," one woman said.

"Sometimes, certain cops are mean for no reason," another picnic attendee said.

But seeing officers having a good time with children helps to paint a better picture of the relationship between them and communities of color.

"I think this is a good attempt to see the officers do something good for the community and show that, you know what, not all cops are bad," one attendee said. "There's actually people trying to do good."

"To me personally, I like cops and this what they are doing with the kids is showing me that not all cops are the same," said another man.

And it reminds officers that all people are not the same, and that it's important to continue to build positive relationships and images despite troubling events.

"It is difficult, but we can't let the actions of a few dictate how we move going forward," said 49th Precinct Captain Keith Walton.

Although the event was geared to young children from summer camps, everyone there knew that one day those children will be the young adults living in New York City.

"Letting the kids know that the police officers are not the bad guys, that the police officers are here for them, for their safety, for their families' safety, and for everyone's safety," said Gabriel De Jesus of the 40th Precinct Community Council.

"It makes the youth — the kids who are coming up — see that we can change the world, some way, somehow," another picnic reveler said.