When I come home and struggle to unlock the door on a cold winter night, I sometimes wonder why I even bother to lock it in the first place. No one is going to break in. No one is going to steal. This is Fenton, Michigan-a suburban safe haven virtually free of crime. While I continue to lock my door out of caution, in Fenton it is almost unnecessary.

For being between two of America’s most dangerous cities, Flint and Detroit, in Fenton citizens can expect to be protected.

According to Fenton Chief of Police Rick Aro, the crime rate of Fenton is very small compared to similar cities. The average violent crime rate is a mere 1.25 persons/thousand. Property crime is a small 3.5 percent of citizens.

Aro believes his staff is doing a good job in keeping the peace. Fenton’s police staff uses a variety of techniques to maintain law and order. One such way is the high visibility the police force always has. Officers constantly roam through town monitoring activity when they are on duty.

Protecting the children is one of the most important goals of the city. One of the primary goals of Police Chief Aro is to restore the School Resource Officer, a designated police officer for the school district. This would ensure all school related issues such as threats are dealt with appropriately. Because of budget restrictions this position has been eliminated.

Despite the lack of a Student Resource Officer, Aro maintains contact with the school district and ensures emergency policies are reviewed and current.

With the school as safe as possible the streets are the next focus. With currently zero convicted citizens of homicide and only one citizen convicted of robbery, the City of Fenton raises the bar of safety. Even the roads are safer than average. 2013 was a fatal accident free year and the accident rate was an abysmal 1.9 persons/thousand.

Despite the chaos surrounding the shooting in Ferguson, Missouri, and the distrust of police that has ensued, Fenton is still a city where people trust the police. The city prides itself in being a safe town. A place where residents can walk the streets of downtown without fear. A town where citizens do not fear being out at night. Fenton is in good hands. Stay safe, Fenton.