With employee cuts across the Sheriff's Department you might expect the crime rate to spike, but it hasn't and some residents take notice.
"Cops are always doing a good job in Madera," said resident, William Pantoja.
Due to budget cuts, they've lost 17 Sheriff's deputies over the past five years, but still manage to crack down on the major issues like illegal medical marijuana sites.
They usually hit around 30 growing sites, but in 2012 they shut down 55.
"If you're driving along and see all of a sudden plywood fencing around something, that's kind of a clue so we'll fly that and see what's growing in there," said Madera County Sheriff, John Anderson.
In 2012 there was one less homicide than in 2011. Burglaries were also down, robberies stayed the same, auto theft is up and larceny is up.
"Every time I do like an ATM I always check if anything is loose or not to make sure it won't happen to me," said Pantjoa.
Sheriff says copper wire and metal theft still remains a problem and the key is to find where the crooks are selling the material.
He says even with cutbacks in law enforcement, they'll do what's needed to keep the area safe.
"I've been a policeman in 11 different places in California and this is the safest place I've ever lived," said Sheriff Anderson.
Sheriff said some of the crime trends in the area like copper wire theft is fueled by drugs.
