Oakland cut killings to a 60-year low. How did it happen?

OAKLAND — Oakland recorded its fewest homicides in nearly six decades last year, a striking turnaround that came despite historic lows in the number of police officers on the force.

The number of killings investigated last year fell to 67, with 57 of those categorized as murders — excluding cases such as justifiable homicides — a total not seen since 1967, according to data compiled by this news organization.

Overall violent crime — homicides, injury shootings, aggravated assaults...