A city that averaged almost three murders a week last year, has gone three and a half weeks this year without a single homicide.

INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) - A city that averaged almost three murders a week last year, has gone three and a half weeks this year without a single homicide.

IMPD says there have been 19 murders this year, six fewer than the same time last year.

Why the decrease? Police say residents are more involved. Police have changed tactics and both are working more with each other.

Brothers Michael and Chris play basketball in the street in an area of Indianapolis that had one of highest number of murders last year.

So far this year, there has been only two in the IMPD North District.

Long time resident Beatrice Cheatham noticed the difference.

“We don’t have a lot of crime here anymore. One while we did, then all of a sudden it stopped.”

The killing stopped for more than three weeks, not a single homicide in the entire city.

How big of a deal is that? Rev Charles Harrison didn’t hesitate. “Well, it is a big deal.” He replied

Harrison is among the community leaders fighting for peace.

“I see a lot more neighborhoods residents working more closely with police I see it all over the city.” He explained.

“It inspires neighbors to start caring, to start getting involved.” He said. “It says something to the drug dealers and to the gang members that people care about what is going on this community. They are sending a message that violence is not being tolerated.”

Meanwhile, police are changing tactics. They are getting to know residents, partnering with neighborhood groups, and listening to their ideas.

Commander Josh Barker oversees the IMPD North District, “rather than making an assumption on how best to police a neighborhood, I am listening to your feedback and understand the issues you think are important.” Barker said.

The commander went on to explain how IMPD is doing a better job of targeting drug dealing, the motive for many murders.

Instead of forwarding complaints to the department’s central narcotics division, “I am taking that downstairs to my narcotics sergeant.” Barker said “I’m hand delivering that narcotic complaint saying this is a priority. This needs to be addressed.