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Mayor, chief: No homicides in Holyoke last year

HOLYOKE (AP) - The mayor and police chief in Holyoke say there wereno reported homicides in the city last year, the first time that has happenedin at least a quarter century.

Mayor Alex Morse and police Chief James Neiswanger said in ajoint statement Wednesday that they credited the statistic to good police work,the city's mobile police vehicle that's deployed to high crime areas,establishment of a building code enforcement officer and resumption of the dogunit.

Morse called it a "monumental achievement" and praised the chiefand his department.

Holyoke had four homicides in 2011.

Nearby Springfield reported a decade-low 12 homicides in 2012.