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Boston Police call on public to help find suspects after recent shootings

DORCHESTER, Mass. — Dorchester served as the scene for a walk between residents and police on Tuesday, coming off the heels of a string of shootings in the area.

Kids, parents and people from all backgrounds joined Boston Police for the walk, an event held every week all over the city for officers to connect with their community.

Dorchester native John Schneiderman said the turnout at this week's event in particular, however, showed the support those in the area had for police.

"You can see all the people who showed up tonight," Schneiderman said. "It's very important to support the Boston Police, and the community to let everybody know that Dorchester is a really proud community."

Boston Police say the walks help community relations, which they hope will help as they search for suspects in multiple shootings.

Shootings in Mattapan, specifically, have left two dead since Saturday, and police are now calling on residents to step up and help find suspects after a shooting on Tuesday morning.

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"Cold hard facts is there's too many guns on the street,' Boston Police Commissioner William Gross said.

Gross said the shooting on Tuesday morning wasn't a random one, and said that's where judges come in to keep the streets safe.

"We are sick and tired of when we make arrests, several of the individuals, it's their third and fourth time with a firearm offense," Gross said.

Now, Gross and the rest of the Boston Police officers are hoping to build up relationships, all in hopes for a stronger community.

For this week, Dorchester resident Evandro Miranda brought a group of kids from the Boys and Girls Club, and said the trip gives some better context for the children.

"Just to see that the cops are good people," Miranda said. "You see a lot of stuff on the news going on with cops in other parts of the nation. They're not bad people."