Richmond's total number of homicides dipped to 55 for 2007, the lowest in 26 years.

In the past, the capital city has been recognized as having one of the highest murder rates in the country.

In the 25 years from 1982 to 2006, for instance, the city averaged more than 100 homicides a year, with a high of 160 in 1994.

The total for 2007 dropped from the previous year's total of 81. Nearly 195,000 people live in the city.

Richmond Police Chief Rodney Monroe believes there's been an overall reduction of violent crime.

Other cities saw an increase in homicides. Norfolk ended the year with 50, including a man shot to death at a shopping center on New Year's Eve. That's up sharply from 28 homicides in 2006. Nearly 242,000 people live in Norfolk.