While nonfatal domestic abuse crimes have declined so far this year, the rate of domestic homicides has been steady when compared with last year, according to Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly.

Of the 446 homicides committed through October 21 this year, 49 were deemed domestic, said Mr. Kelly at a press conference held in recognition of Domestic Abuse Awareness Month. Of the more than 480 murders during the same period last year, the tally of domestic homicides was the same: 49.

Over the past three years, the rate of domestic crimes has slid 28%, a decline that Mr. Kelly attributed to the department’s initiatives, such as the 67% increase in home visits to domestic violence victims during the period.

Mr. Kelly also said that one-third of all homicides against females between 1995 and 2003 were domestic, and so far this year domestic violence accounted for 22% of felony assaults against women and 24% of rapes.

“When women are killed, they are most often killed by someone they know,” said Mr. Kelly.

Mr. Kelly announced a new protocol for sharing the department’s Domestic Incident Response Database with the city’s district attorneys and the Department of Probation, as well as the state Division of Parole.

The database provides a citywide history with digital photographs of domestic violence suspects and victims. The database includes all domestic calls, including those in which arrests were not made, and can be used to establish patterns and trends.

“This initiative lends added power to our efforts to pursue perpetrators of domestic violence with all the tools at our disposal,” said Mr. Kelly. “By enabling prosecutors and the police to search the database of repeat offenses, we can ensure that domestic violence offenders are punished to the fullest extent of the law. In so doing, we can also better protect the victims and police.”

Police officers are also being provided with cell phones connecting to translators of more than 150 languages, and the department’s Compstat system is being tailored for domestic violence crimes, said Mr. Kelly.

Mr. Kelly honored 28 police officers and detectives for their efforts in cracking down on domestic violence. Mr. Kelly spotlighted the “proactive” efforts of Detective Cheryl Melchionna of Coney Island’s 60th Precinct, who made 21 arrests this year related to domestic violence.

Mr. Kelly also highlighted the dangers faced by officers who respond to domestic situations by recognizing the recently slain detectives Patrick Rafferty and Robert Parker.

The detectives were murdered on September 10 as they responded to a domestic incident at East Flatbush. After they were mortally wounded, Rafferty shot the suspect in the legs and Parker called in a description, which helped other officers to arrest the accused killer.

“Their deaths were a painful reminder that the threat of domestic violence is felt in all aspects of society,” said Mr. Kelly.