Photo by Mason Callejas

Maricopa has made a list of Arizona’s 20 safest cities, ranking No. 5.

The ranking conducted by safewise.com takes into account the number and type of crimes committed per capita within the incorporated city limits.

The data is based on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s 2015 Uniform Crime Reporting statistics.

According to those reports, Maricopa experienced 14.17 crimes per 1,000 residents, sandwiching Maricopa between Gilbert (13.93) at No. 4 and No. 6 Oro Valley (14.44). Of Maricopa’s 14.17 crimes, 12 percent (1.72) were violent crimes and 88 percent (12.45) were property crimes.

Maricopa Mayor Christian Price attributes the successes to the police department’s commitment to protecting the city and maintaining the peace.

“Our police force is always doing their best to make us safer and safer every day, “Price said. “I’m very proud of them and happy that we have such a great city, such a wonderful place.”

The Maricopa Police Department maintains a motto of “making every contact excellent” which speaks to more than just enforcing the law.

MPD Chief Steve Stahl has said his department’s mantra is more about community building than excessive policing.