Homicides in Jackson dropped dramatically in the past year, from 74 in 2008 to 40 in 2009.

Police spokesman Joseph Daughtry points to aggressive patrols as one of the contributing factors to the downturn.

Since 2000, the years 2006 and 2009 are tied for the fewest homicides in the city.

Despite having 34 fewer slayings, there were 11 people killed in 2009 who were 21 or younger, which was the same as in 2008.

There were two double homicides in 2009.