Germantown neighborhood and police join for community peace walk

Police swarmed Germantown Saturday for a positive reason.

Officers in the northwest neighborhoods of Philadelphia spent part of the day with the people they protect.

"We're cleaning up our community, we're taking our community back," said

It was people and police. Together. Two groups. But, one team. And, one goal - work together. Cleaning up their parks, clearing up their streets and firming up a working relationship to help stop crime from happening. And, just as importantly - help solve crimes after they happen.

FOX 29 asked, "Does it make you sad when you hear, even when a little kid is shot, that nobody's telling them that they saw anything?"

"Yeah, that's pitiful. That's very pitiful," said neighborhood organizer Mr. Hackett.

"I hate that, I hate that. I definitely think this is making strides to help bring the police with the community," said volunteer Tori Enoch.

"We are taking our community back with the help of everyone in the neighborhood. We don't want no more lives lost," Antoinette Killing stated.

"It's very disheartening. You want the community to come together and help solve crimes that we have," explained Captain Ernest Ransom, with the Philadelphia Police. "What we found now is people are coming together. They're giving us the information we need to solve crimes because they're tired of this."

"What we need is more togetherness in the community between the police and the people. Because I truly believe they're here to protect us," volunteer Alexis Watson said.

"Have you seen less of the stop snitching culture?" FOX 29 asked.

"Definitely, I would say so because people understand the importance of giving us information in an effort to stop people from committing crimes and also improving their quality of life and improving the neighborhood," Inspector Tony Washington, of the Philadelphia Police, said.

"The community and the police partnering together to do this, to make neighbors aware, to make them feel safe, that I think it's a wonderful thing," stated State Representative Sharlene Waller.

The police know the best way to stop crime and solve crime is to keep a close, working, constant communication, rock solid bond with those who don't wear a badge or uniform, but are as important to crime fighting as those who do.