Denver Police Department Launches Public Safety Survey to Address Neighborhood Concerns

In a bid to gather valuable insights, they are encouraging residents and workers to participate in the Denver Public Safety Survey.

The Denver Police Department is intensifying its efforts to address safety and crime concerns across the city’s 78 neighborhoods

Travis Leiker, a Denver resident since 2008, expressed concerns about the safety of his community, reflecting a sentiment shared by some of his friends and colleagues. These are the kinds of perceptions the Denver Police Department (DPD) aims to collect from each neighborhood in the city.

Seattle University’s Crime & Justice Research Center is independently conducting the survey, which assesses top safety concerns and prevalent public safety themes among residents and workers. Denver Police Department spokesperson Doug Schepman highlighted the success of a similar survey in Seattle, prompting its introduction in Denver.

The survey is designed to take about 20 minutes to complete. It begins by gathering demographic information and then employs a sliding scale to gauge participants’ opinions on various topics, including their thoughts on the Denver Police Department.

The survey delves deeper, inquiring about participants’ personal experiences as victims of specific crimes and their reporting habits

It also seeks to identify how frequently certain problematic behaviors occur in their neighborhoods or workplaces. The questionnaire, available in 13 languages, even explores personal actions, such as installing security alarms due to safety concerns in one’s neighborhood.

Schepman emphasized that the survey offers an opportunity for individuals who may not typically engage with law enforcement due to language barriers or distrust to provide anonymous feedback.

While the police cite a decrease in violent and property crimes compared to the previous year, a five-year trend shows an 8% increase in citywide violent crime and a 77% surge in auto theft. This trend aligns with observations made by residents like Leiker, who feel that public patience in the city is wearing thin.