Crime statistics from 2008 support some of the refrain Gary Mayor Rudy Clay has been touting for weeks: Crime in his city is down, way down. (Database)

Lake County coroner and police statistics show some region communities usually plagued with the area's top homicide rates are experiencing a downswing in deaths.

Homicides in Gary are down about 52 percent from the 42 the city tallied through July of last year. As of Friday, the city had 20 homicides so far in 2008, more than half of which remain unsolved.

Clay attributed some of the decline to a realization among residents that "if you commit a crime in Gary, the people in the community will come forward."

"The people of Gary are saying 'Hey, we're tired of it. We're not going to take it anymore,' " Clay said.

Though zero homicides would be ideal, Gary police say the current total is far better than it has been in years past.

"It's slow, and we're thankful for that. But we're not relaxing," Gary Sgt. Anthony Titus said. "In our city, you never can get comfortable."

Not getting comfortable means trying to close the city's 13 open homicide cases, something Titus said is easier to do in quieter times of crime.

Last year, Hammond racked up an average of roughly one homicide a month. So far in 2008, it has logged just three killings.

"We've had a great year," Hammond Police Chief Brian Miller said.

Some of the decline stems from a young, enthusiastic police force, success among narcotics and gang units, and increased domestic violence arrests, Miller said.

At six homicides this year, East Chicago also is on pace to have fewer homicides this year than its 2007 total of 16.

"Homicides are going to happen, let's be realistic," East Chicago Police Chief Angelo Machuca said.

But his department is aggressively trying to prevent slayings, beefing up during typical high-crime hours and coordinating with city code enforcement to remove gang graffiti when discovered, Machuca said.

"I think the work is being seen," he said, adding that half of East Chicago's cases are closed and filed with the prosecutor.

Merrillville, a generally quiet town for many years, has reached four killings this year, already exceeding its 2007 total.

The 2008 homicides occurred in three separate incidents, including a double shooting in a Grant Street apartment in January. That case is the town's one open homicide case this year.

The Grant Street investigation was suspended after police stopped receiving leads, Merrillville Police Chief Joseph Petruch said.

Petruch said the homicide spike in Merrillville is troubling, but he is pleased the department has been able to file charges in most of the cases.

Merrillville police Operations Cmdr. Lance Huish said understanding the increase in Merrillville homicides is not simple.

For example, it is difficult to understand why in separate incidents, two people were killed despite their willingness to comply with the attackers robbing them, Huish said.

"You have to get in (the suspects') heads to know why," Huish said.