Crime down in city

The Chicago Police Department says crime is down and the murder rate could be at its lowest in 42 years. The trend in Chicago is part of an overall decline in crime nationwide. Before 2003, Chicago reported more than 600 murders a year. Chicago police spokeswoman Monique Bond says there were 471 murders last year. So far this year, 428 have been reported. Bond says police are working to dismantle gang leadership and remove drugs and guns from the streets. This year Chicago police recovered 13,474 guns, including 6,003 from a gun turn-in program. Demographers say the growth rate in major metropolitan areas is slowing, which also means less crime. Loyola University professor Kenneth Johnson says Chicago lost 62,000 residents between 2000 and last year.