For the first time in more than a decade, the District of Columbia this year recorded fewer than 200 homicides during the first nine months of the year. Preliminary figures from the Metropolitan Police Department indicate that 196 murders were committed from January through September of this year, a reduction of nearly 19 percent from the same period last year.

This year’s figure is the lowest nine-month total since 1987, when there were 155 murders committed between January and September. The 1998 total is also 45 percent lower than the 354 murders committed during the first nine months of 1991, the peak year for homicide in the District.

"This year’s reduction in homicides is particularly encouraging because it follows a 24 percent decline during all of 1997," said Police Chief Charles H. Ramsey. "I recognize that there are many factors contributing to this trend, including a stronger economy and some favorable demographic trends. But part of the reduction can also be attributed to the results of our PSA community policing model and intensified efforts to address open-air drug markets and other serious quality-of-life problems in our neighborhoods," he said.

"As encouraged as I am by the continued reduction in homicides, I still know that Washington, D.C., is far too violent for a city of this size," the chief added. "The goal of the new crime-fighting plan I announced last month is to further reduce the level of violence in our city by putting even more police resources in our neighborhoods and by holding Department managers strictly accountable for solving crime problems in partnership with the community," he said.

Following are the January through September homicide totals for the last 15 years: