Some city leaders and the faith–based community say Peoria is safer thanks to the power of prayer.

Friday marked the last of the 40 nights of prayer, an initiative Mayor Jim Ardis got rolling last year aimed at cutting the city's crime rate.
Looking at the statistics...it's worked.
Since it started on December 31st, there have been no homicides, compared to four this time last year.

"It's taking those steps that we could address something like crime in Peoria and we've tried many other things and some, they've worked some they didn't," said Pastor Tim Bias of First United Methodist on News 25 at 9 Firday night.

The First United Methodist Church hosted the nightly prayer meetings that included an average attendance of more than 150 people from all denominations.

Peoria Police Chief Steve Settingsgaard told News 25 Firday that although there is no way to document it, he believed the 40 days had made a difference.