BOZEMAN, Mont.- TheNational Council for Home Safety and Security has rated Bozeman as having the second-lowest crime rate in Montana.
Kalispell was ranked as the safest city with the lowest number of crimes overall, but when you look closer at the statistics, Bozeman has the least amount of crimes committed per 1,000 people.
Population growth typically leads to a higher crime rate, but that’s not the case for the city of Bozeman.
“I think that it’s a result of the hard work of the men and women that work to keep Bozeman safe as well as the partnership we have with the community. We’ve got alert citizens that are calling in when they see something that doesn’t look right and we work closely to resolve public safety issues, so I think it’s a result of that,” Bozeman Chief of Police Steve Crawford said.
According to Brit Fontenot, Bozeman’s economic development director, “It’s not only the police force enforcing, but it’s also our community members looking after one another that also contributes to what I see as a really safe community — one that I feel comfortable raising my children in and allowing them to travel around the community without constant supervision”
Having a safe community is something that’s attractive for people looking to move to Bozeman.
“Public safety is important. It’s a critical function of government and we take it very seriously, and it translates into an improved quality of life, a safer place to work, play, live, and recreate, and I think that it contributes to the overall quality of life, growth, and the prosperity that Bozeman is experiencing,” Crawford said.
Following Kalispell and Bozeman, the safest cities statewide are Helena, Great Falls, and then Missoula.
