Investigative series: HOW SAFE IS BLOOMINGTON, REALLY? – By Steve Higgs

The 2023 Bloomington State of Public Safety report confirms the obvious. Our city
has become an increasingly dangerous place to live over the past two decades. 
 
And guns are at the heart of the change, according to the report’s BPD section from
Chief Mike Diekhoff. In 2022, gun crimes occurred every 2.7 days in Bloomington;
someone shot at someone else every 5.2 days. 
 
In response to this year’s report, The Bloomingtonian and local journalist Steven
Higgs are collaborating to present a multimedia, investigative look into the
precipitous rise in violent crime in Bloomington since 2004, titled: “How Safe is
Bloomington, Really?” 
 
Part 1: COMBS: HARD DRUGS, GANGS, PROLIFERATION DRIVE SPIKES IN GUN CRIME 

Part 2: GILMORE: RISING CRIME, SYNTHETIC DRUGS VICTIMIZE THE HOMELESS,
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING REDUCES LOW-LEVEL CRIME

Part 3: POLICE CHIEF MIKE DIEKHOFF – Coming April 9th

Liked it? Take a second to support The Bloomingtonian on Patreon!