BOSTON, MA (WBZ-AM) -- The Boston Police Department has appointed at 20-year veteran of a brand new bureau for community engagement.
In a crowded conference room at Boston police headquarters erupted in applause Monday as Police Commissioner William Gross introduced Nora Baston, to lead the new branch of Boston Police
The bureau will be tasked with overseeing a citywide effort for me City down to West Roxbury to try to further strengthen community policing.
The goal: to continue earn the public's trust.
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said Boston is already a model city in the country for having strong police community relations and he says "our goal is to continue building trust."
"This new bureau will enhance the department's community policing effort and focus on preventing crime," Walsh said.
"You know in today's world you can't lock everyone up and we have to do is more work of trying to reach out to people. I mean what we ought to be prevention of violent crimes prevention of violence instead of always trying to play catch up," he said.
Walsh said the bureau will raise the department to a whole new level.
WBZ NewsRadio1030's Carl Stevens ( @carlwbz ) reports.