Safety in Ponderosa
Ponderosa doesn’t have its own police figures in the FBI’s data. It’s most likely covered by the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office. Below is what it reports, along with the nearest towns that have their own numbers.
What stands out about safety in Ponderosa
Ponderosa relies on the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office
Ponderosa has no police department of its own in the FBI’s data, so there’s no crime rate or Safety Grade for the town itself. Calls here most likely go to the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office. Across the whole area it patrols, the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office reported 1,565 property and 569 violent crimes in 2025, with property crime down 18% and violent crime up 69% since 2022. Who patrols here ↓
Plan for wildfire, too
FEMA rates expected storm and flood damage in Ponderosa higher than in 99% of U.S. communities, with wildfire, inland flooding and avalanches the main risks. Be ready ↓
The nearest ER is 28 miles away
It’s Sierra View Medical Center in Porterville. Worth knowing the route before you need it. Be ready ↓
The nearest town with its own figures is 28 miles away
The closest towns that report to the FBI are Porterville (28 mi), Lindsay (32 mi) and Exeter (37 mi). Their grades run from C− to C, so treat them as a rough guide, not a stand-in. Nearest towns ↓
Written from the FBI data on this page. County and state agency figures cover their whole patrol area, not just this town, so they can’t be turned into a rate.
Ponderosa is covered by the county
Ponderosa has no police department of its own in the FBI’s data. Calls here most likely go to the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office, and its numbers cover the whole area it patrols, not just Ponderosa.
Crimes reported in the parts of Tulare County it patrols: the towns and villages without police of their own.
Property crimes (burglary, theft, stolen cars)
Violent crimes (assault, robbery, rape, murder)
These are counts, not rates. The FBI doesn’t publish how many people each agency covers, so we can’t turn them into a per-resident figure or a Safety Grade. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, offenses known to law enforcement by county and by state agency.
The closest towns that report their own numbers
Here are the nearest towns with their own police departments in the FBI’s data. Tap one to see its safety page.
| Town | Grade | Distance | Violent | Property | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Porterville | C | 28 mi | 3.3 | 13 | 2025 |
| Lindsay | C− | 32 mi | 3.8 | 11.1 | 2025 |
| Exeter | C | 37 mi | 2.7 | 15.7 | 2025 |
| Woodlake | C− | 38 mi | 5.7 | 13.3 | 2025 |
| U.S. average | 3.3 | 15.5 | 2025 |
Reported crimes per 1,000 residents in each town’s latest year; * = a count, for towns under 1,000 people; — = not graded. Distances are straight-line. Nearby towns can be very different from Ponderosa: a small village and a city aren’t alike.
Know who to call, and what the weather can do
For emergencies, the nearest ER, and the storms and floods Ponderosa plans for.
Expected damage is higher than in 99% of U.S. communities.
Natural hazards in Ponderosa →Phone numbers come from neighbors and the town’s own site (the Handbook). A number you add goes live once two neighbors confirm it.
Heads-up board
Neighbors looking out for each other in Ponderosa.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Please don’t name or describe individuals. In an emergency, call 911.
Crime: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program, Crime Data Explorer: offenses known to law enforcement by city, and state and national rates. Counts are crimes reported to police, not convictions. The Safety Grade is our own summary of that data, not an official rating. Natural hazards: FEMA National Risk Index and flood insurance claims. Hospitals: CMS Hospital General Information. This isn’t an official statement of public safety. In an emergency, call 911.