Poll: Residents now feel safer Downtown 11.3.10

The Indianapolis Star

Indianapolis residents said they felt safer Downtown than they did a year ago, according to one annual survey.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis polled 387 people across the city about quality-of-life issues.

It found that 85.2 percent of residents polled felt safe or very safe in their homes after dark; 76.5 percent said the same of their neighborhoods; and 59.4 percent said Downtown was safe or very safe at night.

Last year, 54.7 percent of residents said they felt safe or very safe at night Downtown, according to a news release issued by the university.

In addition, more people expressed confidence in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department this year than last, despite several recent instances of alleged police misconduct and lawbreaking.

The survey found that 60 percent of residents thought the city had a reliable police presence, up from 55.8 percent a year ago.

"The survey results seem to be a good sign for police," said Sotiris Hji-Avgoustis, chairman of the university's department of tourism, conventions and event management.

IUPUI has been conducting the annual survey since 2004.
http://www.indystar.com/article/20101103/LOCAL18/11030361/Poll-Residents-now-feel-safer-Downtown?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|IndyStar.com