"Wray's decision earlier in 2004 reversed a policy established by his predecessor, Robert White, now chief of police in Louisville, Ky.
White, Greensboro's police chief from 1998 through early 2003, disbanded a similar tactical unit that his predecessor, former police Chief Sylvester Daughtry, established largely to fight crack dealing on the streets."
GREENSBORO NC -- They spent countless hours tracking leads, interviewing witnesses and, for the most part, making arrests. Still the homicides kept coming.
That was 2003. In 2004, police investigators finally had a chance to catch their breath.
Greensboro homicides fell more than 50 percent during the past year, a trend detectives attribute in part to a new squad charged with disrupting open-air drug markets.
But police Chief David Wray credits more than a revamped police presence for the city's drop in homicides.
Kudos also go to community leaders who addressed issues that often lead to violence, he said, factors such as drug dealing, alcohol abuse and prostitution.
"We certainly are pleased," Wray said, adding later, "when a community expresses its will in a real clear way, you're going to see results."
Police investigated 36 homicides in 2003, plus several other killings that were later ruled justifiable. As of press time Friday night, police had responded to 16 deaths in 2004, one of which was an officer-involved shooting in June during a stand-off.
No other major city in North Carolina saw homicides decline on the same scale as Greensboro. And because the number dropped, officials saw room to assign one investigator full time on unsolved "cold cases."
Another benefit was additional time for detectives to investigate what homicides did occur. More time led to a higher percentage of arrests.
Only two 2004 homicides remain unsolved:
Jesus Salvador Rivas Nava, 21, died of a gunshot wound July 13, two days after an assailant shot him outside the Artistika night club on South Elm Street.
Idrissa Salifou, 44, was killed Oct. 16 in the parking lot of his apartment building at 356 Burlingate Drive, behind the Price Place Shopping Center on West Market Street. Someone shot the Nigerian immigrant as he unloaded groceries from his car.
"The longer you go without clearing a case, the harder it is to clear," said Lt. George Holder, with the department's criminal investigation division.
Authorities believe Wray's creation of Tactical Special Enforcement Teams, commonly called "t-set" by the 32 officers who work the unit, was one factor that reduced violence.
Wray's decision earlier in 2004 reversed a policy established by his predecessor, Robert White, now chief of police in Louisville, Ky.
White, Greensboro's police chief from 1998 through early 2003, disbanded a similar tactical unit that his predecessor, former police Chief Sylvester Daughtry, established largely to fight crack dealing on the streets.
Elected leaders and community activists say they've noticed the fewer homicides in 2004.
"I pray to God that it continues. A year ago, every time you walked out the door you were afraid you would get hurt," said Dorothy Brown, president of the Ole Asheboro Neighborhood Association, speaking about the city in general -- not her particular neighborhood. "Now that crime has decreased, people feel safer and more relaxed, and able to go do things."
"When citizens take control of their neighborhoods, keep up their property, react to crime swiftly and consistently, the criminal element is reduced and it seems to me that fewer murders are one of the natural outcomes of those actions," said Donna Newton, who heads the Greensboro Neighborhood Information Center, in an e-mail.
Officials hope homicides continue to decline in 2005.
"Well, any homicide is too many, so from that perspective you don't necessarily call it success," said Mayor Keith Holliday. "But you do see different indicators that can be applied."
Holliday cites an improving economy and better attitudes for the changes, in addition to police work. With people feeling less anxious and more secure, emotions don't translate into violence.
"Overall, I'm not surprised that the numbers are lower," he said. "Knock on wood, hopefully it stays like that."
Leaders weren't so happy in June when the U.S. Department of Justice selected Greensboro as one of 15 cities nationwide to get extra federal agents under a new program to fight escalating violent crime.
Several agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives joined Greensboro police in June to lend assistance. Those agents typically worked 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., answering complaints of drug activity. They have since returned to their regular assignments.
Greensboro was the second-smallest city on the list that included Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Baltimore.
Holliday initially expressed concern that Greensboro was developing an undeserved reputation based on an abnormal year.
"I'll take (extra manpower) all day long, but from the vantage point of having a major bull's eye pointed at Greensboro, I didn't think that was fair," he said. "Regardless of manpower coming from the feds, we would have had lower (homicide) numbers."
Wray said he believes the drop in homicides will bolster his case to City Council next year that the department could use more manpower.
Council members gave Wray 32 new positions in its June budget. The department initially requested 100 positions.
"It says this is an investment we're making, and there's a return on it," Wray said.
But is manpower the key factor in keeping homicide rates low? For Wray, there is no one answer.
"Lots of variables are at play here," he said. "There's no way of scientifically knowing."