MICHIGAN CITY | Crime is down again in Michigan City, continuing a trend stretching back 20 years.
Mayor Chuck Oberlie welcomed the news, saying crime is a factor companies -- especially those involved in retail and tourism -- look at when deciding to come into a community.
And, with the local economy relying more on tourism, Michigan City officials are pleased.
"Businesses want to have a sense of being safe. A person coming here feeling safe and their desire to come back means a lot," Oberlie said.
Police Chief Ben Neitzel said crime was down 6 percent in 2009.
And, in 2008, the crime numbers were down more than 12 percent from the previous year.
More telling, perhaps, is there were 2,200 reported crimes last year compared to more than 3,700 in 1990.
Oberlie said that goes a long way toward improving an image, something that can work in favor or against a community.
"We certainly have a huge tourism industry in our community. I think it helps us from an economic development standpoint," Oberlie said. - By Stan Maddux, Times Correspondent
