INDIANAPOLIS (AP) _ Indianapolis' public safety director is stepping down to take a newly-created public safety research job affiliated with universities. 

Troy Riggs tells The Indianapolis Star (http://indy.st/1J6CaZn ) in a story posted online Wednesday that he'll likely stay on as director through July. Mayor Greg Ballard will look for a replacement. 

Riggs has worked for city government for two decades as a police office and city administrator in Kentucky and Texas. 

His new job will be with the Indiana University Public Policy Institute and Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.

He says the new position is an “opportunity of a lifetime'' that will allow him to gather information and look at solutions to systemic issues.