BLOOMINGTON - Some residents and leaders in southwest Bloomington lamented Sunday night's violence in the area but stressed the it remains a safe place to live.

"It's not the norm. This is still a safe area," said Don Trickle, a member of South Hill Neighborhood Association, which covers an area not far from some of the four gunfire incidents.

"As far as I'm concerned, this was more of a random-type thing, and I wouldn't expect that kind of violence to continue," said Trickle, who lives on South Madison Street.

A man at 312 Greenwood Avenue was shot in the torso about 11 p.m. Sunday and remained hospitalized Monday. Shots also were reported near Morris Avenue and Springfield Road, at 1622 Indiana Ave. and at 816 W. MacArthur Ave.

Police said Monday they believe the incidents were related but released few details.

County Board member Cathy Ahart, who represents the area where the gunfire took place, called the news disheartening.

"It doesn't matter where violence happens, I dislike it," said Ahart. "But I believe our community is safe."

Her interaction with constituents has left her with the impression that most people believe the city's police and county sheriff's deputies do an excellent job, she said.

Erik Rankin, the other District 9 County Board member, didn't return a call Monday.

Bloomington Ward 1 Alderman Bernard Anderson, who represents some of the Springfield-Morris area, attended a news conference Monday afternoon at Bloomington Police Department. After the event, he said he's confident policing in the area is adequate.

"The crime rate in this area is still much lower than other parts of the state," he said.

Still, Anderson said that just because the area is safe doesn't mean violent episodes should be dismissed.

"When we're OK with that being the way it is, that's wrong," he said, encouraging residents of southwest Bloomington to get to know their neighbors.

While there may not be formal Neighborhood Watch groups in place, Anderson said neighbors still need to be vigilant about keeping eyes and ears open and knowing what's normal for their area.

Ward 2, represented by David Sage, includes the Indiana and Greenwood sites and some of the Morris-Springfield area. He declined to comment Monday on the events.

Ward 6 Alderman Karen Schmidt, who represents the MacArthur area, said she was "absolutely confident" in police and pleased with recent changes in how the department is deploying its officers in the neighborhoods.

"Of course we're concerned, but the community is better off because of the relationship between the neighborhood associations and the police," she said.