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1 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 Serious crime down in Medford ... Critter craze ... Surveillance video set to music gets leads and laughs ... Serious crime down in Medford ... Critter craze ... Surveillance video set to music gets leads and laughs ... PUBLIC SAFETY Serious crime down in Medford Comment By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Jul. 22, 2015 at 4:45 PM Updated at 6:28 PM By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Jul. 22, 2015 at 4:45 PM Updated at 6:28 PM » Social News Crime in Medford is down compared with last year, and police are crediting increased community involvement and resources devoted to specific types of crimes. A report from Medford police shows that serious crimes, including rape, robbery, assault, burglary and theft, are down by a combined 14.7 percent in January through June this year compared to the same six-month period last year. "Obviously we're doing something right," said Medford police Chief Tim George. George said he thinks continued community involvement and his department's social-media presence are key factors in driving the numbers down. Those factors are also helping catch bad guys, especially in cases involving robberies, car thefts and home break-ins. On Wednesday, the Medford police Facebook page boasted more than 16,000 followers, a cohort of eyes and ears George said has been invaluable in providing tips.  "Citizens are getting involved. They're not afraid to give us information," he said. "We've even had people turn themselves in."  Medford police Lt. Mike Budreau also credited recent prevention efforts within the community, such as the volunteer graffiti-removal group West Side Beautification.  "Organizations like that are really having a ripple effect," Budreau said.  George credited having officers solely devoted to domestic violence cases as a key reason domestic violence-related homicides have stayed at zero for almost two years. An advocate from Community Works coordinates with officers on the cases. "They do follow-ups on every domestic violence case we have," George said. The largest drops in serious crimes were in rapes and burglaries. Rape cases dropped to 12 this year from 21 in the first six months of 2014, a decrease of about 43 percent. Burglaries fell nearly 36 percent, to 196 this year from 304 last year. Robberies fell to 36 from 49, a decrease of 27 percent.  Assaults plunged to 575 from 667 — almost 14 percent. Theft, the category that accounted for the highest number of incidents for both years, dropped to 2,086 from 2,364, a 12 percent dip. Arson saw a slight rise, jumping to 15 from 13. Homicides were unchanged, with zero reported for both year-to-date periods.  Less serious offenses, such as drug crimes, fraud, driving under the influence of intoxicants and disorderly conduct, were down by 2.4 percent. Reports of vandalism, however, surged to 705 in 2015 from 593 in 2014. Drug offenses also rose, to 906 from 858.  George said he does not think legalization of recreational cannabis in Oregon will have much of an effect on the drug offense numbers, as the bulk of the agency's arrests in that category stem from methamphetamine possession.  "I don't see that changing a whole lot," George said. "Methamphetamine is still the number-one hazard drug."  Police have closed fewer cases this year than in 2014, though not by much. In the first six months of 2015, they cleared 1,295 serious crime cases, or 42 percent, compared to 1,552 cases, or 43 percent, the year before. Clearance rates on less serious crimes stayed consistent at about 81.5 percent, with 6,995 cases cleared in 2015 compared with 7,181 in 2014. Going forward, George said, mental health-related calls will be a key focus. Police responded to 305 such calls in 2015, a 23 percent increase over last year's 248. Three men in the midst of apparent mental health crises were killed by the department in officer-involved shootings in the past year. Officers shot and killed 52-year-old Stephen Andrew McMilon after he fired at least one shot at police near the intersection of Cherry Street and Stewart Avenue in August 2014. In March of this year, 49-year-old Andrew Charles Shipley was shot and killed after he opened fire on officers with a high-powered hunting rifle following a 19-hour standoff on Argyle Court. In May, police shot and killed James Anthony Morris, 40, on La Loma Drive after he pointed a weapon at law enforcement and made threatening statements following a domestic disturbance.  The department continues to invest in crisis intervention training for personnel, George says. "That is crucial to us," George says of the ongoing mental health training. "I think that's the most critical thing we're dealing with right now."  June 2015 - Consolidated Incident Report by Mail Tribune   Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil . By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Jul. 22, 2015 at 4:45 PM Updated at 6:28 PM » 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... 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