Document text
2 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Ashland police find suspected car thief asleep in stolen vehicle ... Cooking oil fire damages SOU-owned home, displaces two ... Rogue Valley pair hope supporters will breathe life into 'Don't Die' ... Ashland police find suspected car thief asleep in stolen vehicle ... Cooking oil fire damages SOU-owned home, displaces two ... Rogue Valley pair hope supporters will breathe life into 'Don't Die' ... OUR VIEW Our View: Taking aim at gang violence on Medford streets Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Oct. 16, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Oct. 16, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Medford police have arrested a suspect in Tuesday night's drive-by shooting. That's the good news. The bad news is, gang-related shootings appear to be on the increase, and police say they don't know why. West Medford residents of the Union Park-Prune Street neighborhood say they don't feel safe leaving their houses after dark. One neighbor said he's actually considering moving to Los Angeles, because "it would be safer." Police say the shooting was gang-related, but they're not sure what's behind the rash of shooting incidents in west Medford. Tuesday's shooting was the fourth in a little more than a month, but the only one to result in injury. The injuries are not minor. The victim was struck several times in the torso and leg, and was treated at the scene by a former combat medic. The victim was listed in critical condition after being taken to a hospital. What's important here is not what kind of gang dispute led to the the shooting, but what needs to be done to address this problem before it gets any worse. Medford police participate in an interagency gang task force, and the department employs a cultural liaison officer who specializes in outreach to the Hispanic community. Lilia Caballero can be reached at 541-774-2215. The Medford Area Drug Gang Enforcement team (MADGE) has a tip line, 541-618-1TIP (1847). Callers can remain anonymous. Police acted quickly to track down the vehicle and the suspect in the most recent case. That's important, but it's even more vital to get in front of this activity to prevent shootings rather than react to them. That's where the community comes in. Police can do only so much with limited information. Residents concerned about the safety of their neighborhood can help by reporting what they see and hear. Parents whose children may be lured into gang affiliation must pay attention and reach out for help if necessary. The Medford City Council has a responsibility, too. Councilors have been spending a great deal of time and energy on cost overruns for the new police headquarters and fire stations, but neighborhood safety hasn't seemed to generate much discussion. It's time to put it on the agenda. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Oct. 16, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501