Each year, Polco is proud to celebrate local governments with the Best in Governance Awards — the nation's only awards program honoring communities for both resident experience and measurable outcomes. These awards shine a light on the jurisdictions that stand out as the most effective, innovative, and community-centered across the country, as measured through national data.
We're continuing our series recognizing the Top Performers across essential areas of community livability. Today, we're spotlighting the Safety category.
About the Safety Category
Public safety is the foundation of trust between residents and their local government. It's the feeling of security when walking through a neighborhood, the confidence that first responders will arrive when needed, and the knowledge that a community is prepared for whatever challenges may come. The Best in Governance Awards for Safety recognize communities that excel in keeping residents safe, preventing harm, and building resilience through data-driven leadership and community partnership.
The Best in Governance Awards are based on extensive, high-quality data, including results from the National Community Survey (The NCS) and national indicators from Polco's Government Performance Action Lab (GPAL). Together, these measures provide a comprehensive picture of how communities perform and improve in one of the most essential areas of livability: safety and preparedness.
Because Safety is measured through both lenses, this year's honorees are recognized across three groups: Community Impact — Excellence highlights the top performers on measurable, public-data outcomes; Voice of the People — Excellence recognizes the communities with the highest resident ratings nationwide; and Voice of the People — Transformation celebrates those that achieved the biggest improvements in resident ratings over time.
2026 Top Performers: Safety
Community Impact — Excellence
- Cusseta-Chattahoochee County, Georgia
- City of Muskego, Wisconsin
- Village of Southampton, New York
Voice of the People — Excellence
- City of Coral Gables, Florida
- Town of Davidson, North Carolina
- City of Naperville, Illinois
- Town of Needham, Massachusetts
- City of Suwanee, Georgia
Voice of the People — Transformation
- City of El Cerrito, California
- City of Englewood, Colorado
- City of Mountlake Terrace, Washington
- City of Santa Cruz, California
- City of Wichita, Kansas
What's Next
The communities recognized as Top Performers represent the very best in keeping residents safe and communities prepared. The National Champions in each category will be announced in October.
Congratulations to all of this year's Top Performers. We're honored to showcase your leadership in building stronger, smarter, and more connected communities. Visit our awards page for more information about Polco's Best in Governance Awards.
