Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (L) congratulates Los Angeles Police Department Deputy Chief Charles Beck after he was announced as the mayor's selection to be the new Chief of Police at a news conference at the Getty House, the official residence of the mayor, on November 3, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

The City of Los Angeles recorded the lowest number of homicides in more than 40 years - 297 murders occurred last year. City and law enforcement officials trumpeted that progress Tuesday at a city hall news conference. But they said they couldn't sustain it if budget cuts force the Police Department to lose officers.

The year just ended was Charlie Beck's first as Los Angeles' police chief. He said the last time the city tallied so few homicides was 1964.

L.A.'s population was 30 percent smaller then, and the police chief's name was Bill Parker. "For the past nine years - nine years," said Beck, "and no other city's done this - crime has dropped every year in Los Angeles."

Beck said that happened for several reasons, but mainly because Los Angeles decided to grow its police force. "The Los Angeles Police Department has finally - after nine years of hard work, particularly since 2005 - finally become big enough to do its job."

L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said more than half of L.A.'s homicides are gang-related. As far as he's concerned, a larger police force and more anti-gang programs have helped manage that. "Our intervention workers who immediately after a shooting make sure that they're calming the waters in communities where otherwise there might have been a retaliation."

Both men said the city's progress and its "holistic" approach to crimefighting are in danger as L.A. stares down a budget deficit of more than $300 million. They want the police department to continue hiring at least enough officers to replace the ones who move on.

L.A. Police Commission President John Mack endorsed that idea. "During these coming months, it's gonna be tough. Some difficult decisions have to be made. But I certainly join with them in urging the City Council to make sure that we do not go back. We must sustain this force and continue this great effort."

Mayor Villaraigosa said deliberations for the next budget begin now.