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Fewer Murders In 2010 Than Previous 2 Years

CHICAGO (WBBM) - There were fewer murders in Chicago last year than the year before, and the year before that.

LISTEN: Newsradio 780's Jan Coleman Reports

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By the numbers, there were 435 homicides in Chicago in 2010, which is the lowest murder rate in the Windy City in 45 years. In 1965, 395 people were killed. The 2010 murder rate caps three successive years of declines from 460 murders in 2009 and 513 in 2008.

Experts say it's happening all over the country - fewer violent crimes. Except, Northwestern University Crime and Police expert Wesley Skogan tells the Tribune many African American neighborhoods have not seen violent crime rates decline as they have in White, Hispanic or diverse neighborhoods.

It's one of the reasons Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis is considering shifting officers from districts where there are fewer violent crimes to much busier districts.

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