Homicides Averaging One Per Week in Tulsa

TULSA, Okla. (AP) — The number of homicides in Tulsa in the first half of 2012 puts the city on pace to challenge last year's seven-year low. The Tulsa World reports the city saw 26 killings this year through June 30, compared to 25 during the same period last year. There were 53 homicides in all of 2011, marking the lowest number since 2004. The newspaper says that if the pace holds, the city could finish this year with three annual declines since it had a record 71 killings in 2009. Tulsa Police Detective Dave Walker says increased gang enforcement and ongoing public support are at least partly responsible for the decline. ___ Information from: Tulsa World, http://www.tulsaworld.com Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. Summary