Gary, Indy see homicides decline in 2009

GARY, Ind.  — The city of Gary, which has long had one of the nation's highest homicide rates, recorded its fewest slayings in at least two decades last year, when violent crime declined by 17 percent.

Gary police recorded 49 homicides in 2009, down from 51 in 2008 and 71 during 2007.

Investigations Division Cmdr. Thomas Decanter said it's not clear why the number of killings has been decreasing.

The impoverished city along Lake Michigan has frequently had the nation's most homicides per person during the past couple of decades. It recorded its most slayings — 132 — in 1995.

Indianapolis, which has a population about eight times larger than Gary, saw its lowest homicide rate in 16 years in 2009. At least 101 people were slain last year, compared to 123 a year earlier.

Other Indiana cities also saw fewer killings. Fort Wayne had 21 homicides last year, down from 26 in 2008. South Bend had 16, down from 17 in 2008.

Gary's crime statistics were not part of the FBI's midyear report for 2009 released last month because its population has fallen below 100,000. The latest Census estimate puts the city's population at about 96,000 — down from about 175,000 in 1970.

FBI spokesman Bill Carter said the agency's annual crime report will include information submitted by cities with more than 10,000 residents.

Since at least 1995, Gary has had the most homicides per resident in all but two years. New Orleans had the most last year and in 2004.

A review by the Post-Tribune of Merrillville found that 32 was the average age of men killed in the city last year, with several gunshot victims 50 or older and only one teenager dying after being shot.

"Next year, the average age of victims could be 20," Decanter said. "But whatever happens, we're hoping to keep increasing our solve rate."