In the first half of February, the New Orleans metro area has seen only one homicide. That homicide happened on February 6 in New Orleans East. According to one crime watchdog, this low number is unprecedented.
"As long as I've been doing this, I've never seen the city experience (only) one homicide," Metropolitan Crime Commission President Rafael Goyeneche said.
According to Goyeneche, the surprisingly low homicide rate for the current month is the latest sign that crime in the area is on the decrease.
"This isn't a new trend," Goyeneche said. "This is something that we've seen evolving over the past two years, and the numbers keep getting better and better."
Goyeneche credits two factors for the low homicide rate. The first: stepped-up policing by the New Orleans Police Department.
"They're using technology. They're using proactive policing strategies with a big assist from the Louisiana State Police."
The other factor, Goyeneche said, is the Super Bowl.
"During Super Bowl week, there was 2,900 law enforcement officers deployed throughout the city. So that has been a factor as well," Goyeneche said.
Goyeneche says he's hopeful this trend of reduced homicides in the area will continue to fall.
"The trend that we're seeing is something that we've been watching for two years, and, knock on wood, we can continue this trend in the weeks and months ahead."