Local artist Patrick Richards of Architectural Details donated his talent in order to enhance the hallway leading into the MetroCom Communication’s Center. In April, Mr. Richards was contacted regarding National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week. Due to our telecommunicators’ dedication and hard work, Mr. Richards graciously agreed to complete the mural in an effort to reassure our appreciation of our MetroCom telecommunicators and beautify our work area. The mural displays the MetroCom’s Mission in order to remind our team of MetroCom’s principles and values on a daily basis.

Patrick Richard’s Biography – Patrick Richards is President and Owner of Architectural Details. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art specializing in Advertising Graphic Design from Sam Houston State University in 1986. After traveling the world and working as an apprentice for the famous muralist Richard Haas, Mr. Richards was inspired to bring murals to the interior of people’s homes. In 1991 he began Architectural Details; established his studio, ArtPharm, in Corpus Christi; recruited a team of three artists; and has completed over 40 projects throughout Texas.

MetroCom Information – MetroCom is the twenty-four hour 9-1-1 communications center serving a population of over 352,000 Nueces County residents; 316,381 of which are residents of the City of Corpus Christi. MetroCom was established in 1993 after a study indicated it was essential for Nueces County to have a single Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for all 911 emergency calls and dispatch functions. On average our team answers 50,000 a month or 600,000 a year. Of these calls, an average of 466,000 are dispatched each year. When handling multiple 9-1-1 emergency requests for Police, Fire and Medical Services, and when operating multi-frequency radio dispatch and computer entries, life and death decisions must be made with speed and accuracy. Our Mission is reads, “MetroCom is committed to providing prompt quality service, in a caring resourceful, and professional manner to the citizens and visitors or Corpus Christi and those we serve.”

The American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors Laboratory Accreditation Board declared the Corpus Christi Police Department Forensics Services Division has met or exceeded the accreditation requirements on August 12, 2014 in the Field of Forensics Science Testing.

The accreditation is for a period of four years and granted only after an evaluation of the laboratory’s management system and technical procedures and practices. Accreditation is the result of an extensive commitment of resources and preparation by the management and personnel of the entire program.

Accredited laboratories are expected to maintain high standards which were required to achieve accreditation. The Corpus Christi Police Department Forensics Services Division will also be expected to participate in external proficiency testing and agree for test results to be reviewed by a Proficiency Review Committee. The laboratory will be expected to conduct an annual internal audit and submit a performance declaration to the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors Laboratory Accreditation Board in accordance with program requirements.

The Corpus Christi Police Department Forensics Services Division submits to surveillance visits by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors Laboratory Accreditation Board based on the performance of the laboratory.

The American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors Laboratory Accreditation Board accredited the Corpus Christi Police Forensics Services Division in the disciplines of Firearms/Toolmarks; Latent Prints; and Crime Scene Investigation.

Congratulations to the entire team assigned to the Corpus Christi Police Forensics Services Division!