Johns Creek is the safest city in America, and Police Chief Mark Mitchell says the credit belongs to the community, not the badge.

U.S. News & World Report named Johns Creek the No. 1 Safest Place to Live in the U.S. for 2026–2027, selecting it from more than 850 cities, according to a Thursday, July 17, report in The Creek magazine. U.S. News evaluates communities on metrics including quality of life, job market, and value; the specific safety criteria were not detailed in available reporting. The designation follows a separate U.S. News ranking in May that named Johns Creek the best place to live in Georgia and fifth nationally.

Mitchell describes a five-tier framework behind the department's results: top-tier officers and firefighters, a community that treats law enforcement as partners, supportive city management, strong leadership from Mayor John Bradberry and the council, and partnerships with local, state, and federal agencies.

"We can't police this city without the partnerships and relationships we've built," Mitchell said. "It's a five-tier approach, and we don't take it for granted."

Mitchell added that the department doesn't rest on the recognition, acknowledging that crime "could go up at any moment."

The department's 88 sworn officers and 109 total employees serve a city of roughly 78,400 residents. The force currently has just three open positions. Mitchell attributes that unusually low vacancy rate to mentorship programs, leadership training, and wellness initiatives that address mental, physical, and spiritual health.

A culture built from day one

Elizabeth Warren, one of Johns Creek's first employees when the city incorporated in 2007, sees the ranking as the product of nearly two decades of alignment across sectors.

"Everyone in the city — the residents, law enforcement, city management, nonprofits, churches — was pulling together toward similar goals," Warren said. "That has definitely made a difference."

Warren also serves on the board of Student Leadership NORTH, a program now in its 15th year that engages nearly 250 high school students annually. Executive director Irene Sanders said the curriculum includes ride-alongs with police, fire station tours, and behind-the-scenes looks at city government.

Sanders said families are drawn to Johns Creek for the schools, and that public safety grew as a byproduct of residents wanting to build a strong community.

Infrastructure investment

The city opened Fire Station 63 and a new police substation at 9880 Brumbelow Road on March 31. The 14,675-square-foot facility replaced an older station on Old Alabama Road. At the grand opening, Mitchell said the co-located design lets officers and firefighters "respond more efficiently."

Johns Creek's tax base is roughly 80% residential and 20% commercial. The city has no interstate, no major commercial corridor, and no sprawling entertainment district.

"People move here because they don't want a big development," Warren said. "They want a quieter, more residential community."