BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - 2014 is proving to be one of the safest years in Birmingham's history. At least when it comes to murder.

The city's homicide rate for the first half of the year dropped by more than a third over the first half of 2013. If the pace continues, Birmingham will end the year with the fewest murders since at least 1959.

There were 26 homicides from January through June, down from 40 in the first six months of 2013. Of those 26, three have been ruled justifiable and are not counted in the department's official tally. A fourth, a security guard killed by a police officer, is expected to also be ruled justifiable, authorities said.

"I think back to 2011 when we had the lowest homicide numbers in almost 40 years,'' said Birmingham police Chief A.C. Roper.

Birmingham ended 2011 with 57 homicides -- the lowest number of violent deaths in the city since 1966.

"We're on pace to eclipse those numbers," Roper said.

31 days without a homicide

Other areas have seen a decline as well. In Bessemer, for example, there has been one homicide so far this year, compared to two for the same time period last year.

In unincorporated Jefferson County, there have been two homicides in Birmingham Division and two in the Bessemer Division. Comparatively, in 2013 during the same time frame there were three in the Bessemer Division and one in the Birmingham Division.

As of Thursday, there had not been a homicide in the city of Birmingham in 31 days. The latest homicide occurred June 15 when Arthur Lee Mills was killed while trying to stop a robbery in progress at his neighbor's home across the street.

It's not the longest stretch for Birmingham without a slaying, but it comes close.

Birmingham went 39 days without a homicide in late 2009 and early 2010. In 2008, Birmingham went 27 days without a homicide and, in 2007, 24 days.

"As we entered the summer months, we were concerned about an uptick,'' the chief said, "but the city has done extremely well thus far."

Police officials are pleased with the drop, but that's not to say they're pleased overall.

"One homicide is one too many and affects the family and community unlike any other type of crime,'' Roper said. "It's something that freezes time for that family as they remember their loved one and where they were when they received the news."

Homicide Capt. Scott Praytor agreed.

"People must understand the far-reaching effect that every homicide has. Families, wives, children and parents are permanently scarred on the victim's side as well as the suspect's side. When people choose violence as a way to resolve a problem, they also hurt the ones they love."

Black males most often victims, guns most often used

Of the 22 criminal killings this year, 17 of the victims were black males. The other five victims were women: one of them white; one of them Asian and three of them black.

The youngest homicide victim was 19; the oldest 70. Ten of the slayings happened inside homes, which police say is the hardest place to prevent a homicide from happening. The others happened at: parking lot, three; street, three; business, two; alley, two; public housing complex, one and park, one.

Of the known motives, five stemmed from domestic disputes. The other known motives included: robberies, four; revenge, three; burglary, one; and fight, one.

Some of the higher-profile slayings included the April 5 murder of 63-year-old Chaya Anders, who was found shot to death following a robbery in her store, Ebony Beauty Supply, in north Birmingham and the Southside death of 61-year-old Patricia McCain, whose body was discovered in a plastic storage bin outside the Chateau Terrace Condominiums. Police said she had been dead a month. Charges were filed in both of those cases.

The bodies of Dekova Jemille Harris, 36, and Sharday Ware, 27, were found April 25 by Ware's 7-year-old daughter. Police said the double homicide was the result of a murder-for-hire in retaliation for a 2013 shooting Fairfield, and an informant told them they would have killed the little girl had she been awake when the shootings happened. Two men are charged in that case.

Motivational speaker and Christian author Kerry Delano Hardy, 46, was found shot inside a vehicle in Birmingham's New Hill community on May 2. That case remains unsolved.

Off-duty Birmingham police Officer Keary Hollis was killed May 11 during an altercation outside the Bush Quick Mart. Witnesses said Hollis accidentally bumped into another man's motorcycle and knocked it over. The other man got angry, he and Hollis exchanged words, and when Hollis got in his car and started to leave, the other man opened fire on him. Charges have been filed in that case.

A gun was the weapon of choice in all of the killings so far this year except two of them. Tyrone Hampton, 26, was stabbed to death March 22 during an argument over a woman. Police have not said how McCain, who was found in the storage bin, was killed.

Four 2014 murders remain unsolved

Police have made arrests in the majority of this year's homicides – recording an 82 percent clearance rate, which is well above the national average.

"Clearing cases is not good enough,'' said Praytor. "That doesn't bring a mother's child back. We look to prevent homicides."

In addition to the unsolved slaying of Hardy, there have not been arrests in three other deaths: James Madden, 41, who was found in the 1200 block of Lawson Road by a passerby; Christopher Handley, 29, found shot to death in an alley near the 1500 block of Pearson Avenue S.W., and James Edward Walters, 32, found shot inside a vehicle in the 4400 block of Fifth Avenue South.

"I like to believe that the various enforcement operations and the great work the Patrol Division does on a daily basis has something to do with the decline,'' Praytor said. "The various divisions within the department work well together and we continue to try new and innovative methods to combat violent crime throughout the city."

Deputy Chief Henry Irby, who oversees the criminal divisions, agreed.

In 2010, police saw an increase in violent crime and realized the need to develop a strategy to address it, he said. Roper wanted to launch specialized units to go after the most violent criminals. "Systematically we formed units that would complement each other,'' Irby said.

Those teams included the Crime Reduction Team, the Intelligence Unit and the Neighborhood Enforcement Team, all formed between 2010 and 2013.

"These units, working in conjunction with patrol, other units with the Investigative Operations Bureau, and local federal agencies have definitely had a positive impact on the quality of life in our communities,'' Irby said.

Police officials said they have also tried to strengthen their relationship with the community.

"While we understand that arrests have to be made, we also understand the importance of slowing down to get to know our citizens and listen to what they have to say,'' Irby said. "It is not uncommon to see Chief Roper and his command staff walking through communities, meeting residents and getting a real feel for what is needed to make improvements. I believe that these are things that have brought us to this point."

Police say they've seen an improvement in cooperation from the public.

"I also believe that the citizens of the city are tired of the violence and they are doing more to work with the police,'' Praytor said. "Police departments cannot do it alone; it takes all of us to make a difference."