Status reports on crime can help people evaluate their level of safety. Using local police data or FBI data, you can look at which crimes are going up or down and how your city compares to others. If you have information about where - blocks, census tracts or police patrol zones - crimes happen, you can calculate crime rates for them and see how the different areas within your city are doing. Use FBI incident data to keep tabs on your local police departments.
Look at their clearance rates and their staffing. See how they compare to other similar cities. If the Department of Motor Vehicles in your state keeps records on crashes, you can use it to find the most dangerous stretches of road. Or if you can get your hands on trooper activity reports, you can see who the most prolific writer of traffic tickets is in your area and do a ride-along.