A week ago, Rockford Police Chief Dan O'Shea said the city's violent crime rate is "trending the right way," in that it's down 6 percent with 1,452 incidents through July compared with the same period in 2016.

That's a fact.

But the cops and others charged with providing a safe community want to know whether "trending the right way" accurately reflects what's happening in your neighborhood.

They're asking you in a new online survey, available both in English and Spanish to let them know anonymously by Oct. 27 if that's the case where you live. It's one of 42 questions in the survey about community perceptions of public safety and police.

"How have levels of violent crime changed in your neighborhood over the PAST YEAR?" is Question 18. You can click on the following answers: decreased a lot, decreased some, stayed about the same, increased some or increased a lot. Question 40 asks what you think would reduce crime in your neighborhood, and space is provided for you to type in comments.

Other questions ask how much attention police should devote to problems that include illegal guns, drugs, gangs, domestic violence, auto theft, burglary and prostitution, and if you believe police treat people fairly.

"It's important to know how people feel in perceptions as well as facts," O'Shea told me. "Perceptions can influence quality of life."

The survey — results are expected to be analyzed by the end of the year by Loyola University Chicago staff — will provide ideas to "try some new things, do some old things," O'Shea said.

The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete. Respondents must be at least 18 years old, and live, work or go to school in Rockford. Answers will be analyzed by where residents live, their race, highest education level attained, gender and more.

The survey is being paid for as part of an $181,000 federal grant to reduce violent crime, which was awarded through the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority to the Region 1 Planning Council. The council, the city and Winnebago County will use the results to help improve community/police relations, said Marlana Dokken, grants program manager for the Planning Council.

The council hopes at least 3,000 surveys will be completed.

Champaign, Springfield and East St. Louis have received similar grants, said John Maki, executive director of ICJIA.

One question in the local survey addresses the Winnebago County court system. You can indicate how much you agree or disagree with this statement: "The court system treats everyone in Rockford equally."

There are no questions about the Winnebago County Sheriff's Office. "Because the Sheriff's jurisdiction is countywide," Dokken said, "we were concerned the results could be interpreted as not pertaining to Rockford."

The survey also asks which three sources of information you think are most reliable, including newspapers, radio, TV, police websites or police scanner social media.

Aurelio DeLaRosa, who is recently retired and had served as president of Police Benevolent and Protective Association Unit 6, which represents Rockford police officers, said the survey ironically comes at a time when things are looking up for the department.

"The programs that are in place are making a difference," he said. "I don't think anyone has lost faith in the chief." O'Shea took over as chief in April last year.

LoRayne Logan, a member of the city's Board of Fire and Police Commissioners, said O'Shea has made it a big part of his job to "connect with the community."

The survey is part of making those connections, she said. "Any time you ask for community input, you are doing a wise thing," she said.

"This info will be absorbed and meaningful steps will be taken based on it," Logan said.

Georgette Braun: 815-987-1331; gbraun@rrstar.com; @GeorgetteBraun

More survey questions

• How good are the Rockford police at fighting crime? Being visible on the streets? Treating people fairly? Being available when you need them? Choices are very poor, poor, satisfactory, good, very good.

• In my neighborhood, sometimes people carry guns. Strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree?

Take the online-only survey

Visit for English: surveys.luc.edu/opinio6/s?s=67851

Spanish: surveys.luc.edu/opinio6/s?s=67851&lang=es