The launch of peace talks involving the city’s children turned political Tuesday as Mayor Martin J. Walsh took aim at his rival in this year’s mayoral race and defended Boston’s police commissioner against assertions he is not doing enough to solve shootings.

The mayor appeared to be responding to charges made by Councilor Tito Jackson, who is hoping to unseat Walsh. Jackson had lambasted the Boston Police Department for its slow resolution of shootings that aren’t fatal and for not being serious about fully implementing a program to equip officers with body cameras.

Speaking to children, activists, and members of his own staff, Walsh took the opportunity to lavish praise on Police Commissioner William B. Evans and his team for working with neighbors, helping to create safe spaces, and joining advocates to help lower crime.

“I want to thank Commissioner Evans for his unbelievable work,’’ Walsh said. “Just to reaffirm, we have the best police commissioner here in the city of Boston.’’

Walsh spoke at the launch of the Boston Peace and Democracy Discussions at the Julia Butler Youth and Family Center in the Lenox/Camden housing development. The goal of the initiative is to engage children in talks with their relatives, teachers, pastors, and police officers on how to curb violence and find avenues to peace, organizers said.

At the launch in Lower Roxbury, some young children offered a preview of one of the issues they hope to tackle: bullying. The talks will eventually focus on discrimination and income inequality, officials said.

“We need more conversations . . . in our country, especially in these very uncertain times,’’ Walsh said. “Some people want to divide our nation. They are using fear, misinformation, and even hate to divide us. It is up to us to continue positive changes in the city of Boston.’’

At times, Walsh sounded like he was giving a campaign speech, a point not lost on Jackson, who represents the district where the housing development is located.

Jackson, who said his young cousin was recently shot, said he supports more and better opportunities to assist the city’s young people. He did not back down from his criticisms about the shootings and expressed disappointment in the city’s handling of the implementation of the body camera pilot program.

The city and the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association recently agreed to extend the camera program for six months to ensure sufficient “data is available for an effective study of the program,’’ the mayor’s office said.

Walsh had framed the extension as a positive development, with up to 100 patrol officers continuing to be equipped with body cameras.

Jackson had pushed for all officers to wear cameras.

“The community wants accountability and transparency in our police department that is dragging its feet on the full implementation of police body cameras,’’ Jackson said in an interview after the event.

At the gathering Tuesday, Walsh waxed nostalgic about the past. He paid tribute to former mayor Raymond L. Flynn and former state representative Mel King, who were opponents in the 1983 mayor’s contest. Both men, now friends, helped to launch the peace talks.

“They grew up in a city that was a little different from what we all grew up in,’’ Walsh said. “They grew up in a city [and] witnessed a lot of turbulence — civil rights movement, busing movement, a lot of strain.’’

As mayoral opponents, Flynn and King sought to ensure Boston was a stronger and more inclusive city, Walsh said.

Walsh also recounted a recent lunch he had with business leaders who, he said, urged him to take on the role of a national political leader.

“My job isn’t to be a leader on the national scene. My job is to be mayor of this city,’’ Walsh said he told them. “My job is to . . . make sure that we provide opportunities for everyone in our city. Today is one of those days that I know I’m grateful. I know councilor Jackson is grateful.’’

Meghan E. Irons can be reached at meghan.irons@globe.com.