Danville Named Safest City In California

Town's community policing approach and partnership with residents cited as key factors

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Danville has been named the safest city in California for 2026 by the independent safety research organization SafeWise. The town's decline in both violent crime and property crime rates, as well as its community policing approach and partnership with residents, were cited as key factors in earning the top ranking.

Why it matters

The SafeWise rankings provide a data-driven snapshot of reported crime trends to illustrate relative risk among cities in California. Danville's consistent top rankings over the past decade demonstrate the effectiveness of its public safety strategies and community engagement.

The details

Danville ranked No. 2 in 2025 but returned to the No. 1 spot in 2026 due to declines in both violent crime (from 0.8 to 0.6 per 1,000 residents) and property crime (from 7.4 to 5.9 per 1,000 residents). The town's community policing approach, strong public safety services, and partnership with residents were credited as key factors in maintaining its status as California's safest city.

  • Danville ranked No. 1 from 2018 to 2022.
  • Danville ranked No. 2 in 2025.
  • Danville was named the safest city in California for 2026.

The players

Newell Arnerich

Mayor of Danville.

Thomas Rossberg

Police Chief of Danville.

SafeWise

An independent safety research organization that has been analyzing FBI-reported data and creating a list of safest cities by state since 2015.

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What they’re saying

“We are extremely proud of our community policing approach — built on thoughtful planning, strong public safety services, and a genuine partnership with our residents — which continues to make Danville a safe and welcoming place to live.”

— Newell Arnerich, Mayor

The takeaway

Danville's consistent ranking as California's safest city demonstrates the effectiveness of its community-oriented public safety strategies, which prioritize collaboration between law enforcement and residents to maintain low crime rates and a high quality of life.