KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City is on track for its lowest annual homicide rate in more than 40 years.

The Kansas City Star reports (http://bit.ly/1sRZUHU ) that there have been 34 homicides in the first six months of the year. Police say killings are down 31 percent from last year and the city is on pace for its lowest annual homicide total since 1967.

Police Chief Darryl Forté says he is satisfied with the progress but the death count is still too high.

The drop follows sweeping reorganization within the department and new community efforts to deter violence.

Kansas City, Kansas has the same number of homicides as it did at this point last year. There have been 16 reported.