By Jessica De Nova/KTVL.com

MEDFORD, Ore.-Chief Tim George with Medford Police Department says there has been a lot of talk of threats online and in the media as a result of the recent tragedies throughout our nation, but he says he does not want to "add fuel to the fire."

Medford Police does not want to encourage any copy cats by giving them unnecessary media attention.

Chief George does say, however, that though not every threat will be acted on, each one is taken seriously and followed up on by Medford Police.

There are consequences for issuing a threat, no matter what your age or whether or not you follow through on your words.

"People might look at that and say, well it was a bogus threat because he didn't carry it out, but it doesn't matter.  The crime occurs when you make the threat, number one, and number two, the crime increases the closer you get to actually committing an act," says Chief George.

Medford Police says, people's state of awareness and worry are heightened as a result of the recent tragedies.

Still, the department works just as hard year-round to follow up on any tips.

Chief George encourages the public to always report anything suspicious because "you never know."

He says his department is paid to look into the validity of the information you give.

He believes in preventative tactics to keep tragedies like recent ones from occurring.

The Medford Police Department keeps officers in schools year-round.

A uniformed officer at North High, South High, Hedrick Middle School and McLoughlin Middle School is present full time.

Chief George says, however, prevention is not just about the presence of the officers.

"The preventative piece, what doesn't happen, is hard to measure.  It's easy to measure crime statistics because that's what's getting reported and that's happened, but the relationships that those school resource officers make and those contacts they make with people, being able to provide services to be able to step in front of something before something happens...that's really the preventative piece to keep something bad from happening," says Chief George.

These relationships and preventative measures, he adds, do not stop at schools.

Communities can be better-protected by starting relationships with the contact officer in downtown Medford or starting Neighborhood Watch Programs.

For information on Neighborhood Watch Programs, contact Officer Sales at 541-774-2268.

For more information on school and community protection, call Medford Police Department at 541-774-2250 or go to www.ci.medford.or.us.Medford Police Department threat prevention and follow-up