This week the Corpus Christi Police Department received the first order of cars that will be rotated into patrol. The Ford Motor Company will no longer manufacture the Crown Victoria model cars and the Corpus Christi Police Department will replace the sedans with the Ford Police Interceptor. The fleet of patrol cars does not increase, these vehicles replace others which are rotated out of the Police inventory because of the normal wear and tear of the equipment.

The Police Interceptor is a five passenger sedan with a 3.7 liter V6 engine and 6 speed automatic transmission. The new cars are a white exterior with black cloth and vinyl interior.

Some of the features of this vehicle are 18 inch steel wheels, a full size 18 inch spare tire, underbody deflector plate, key locks for the driver door, truck, and passenger door, black vinyl floor covering, tilt and telescoping steering column, all wheel drive system, and dual spotlights. Some features that were included with the vehicle from the manufacturer are for safety such as the strobing lights on the interior of the trunk. The lights in the trunk provide visibility while the open trunk shields the overhead lightbar. There are also front, side, and safety canopy airbags on the interior of the cars.

The new vehicles arrived on February 27 from the manufacturer and must be outfitted with the decals, radio and computer console, light bars, push bumpers, cages, and other accessories installed locally. Much of the needed accessories will be able to be transferred from outgoing patrol cars into the new vehicles. The public can expect to see the new cars on the road in the Fall.

The Corpus Christi Police Department will accept applications from interested clergy of all faiths to serve the community in a Police Chaplain Corps. The purpose of the Police Chaplain Corps is to meet optional counseling needs of the officers of the Corpus Christi Police Department and to provide comfort to members of the community in times of crisis based on request.

Clergy of all faiths and denominations are encouraged to apply to be volunteers. Anyone interested may contact Senior Officer Chuck Freeman by email at charlesf@cctexas.com for an application.

A candidate for Police Chaplain must meet the minimum qualifications for appointment:

1. Be an ordained or licensed member of the clergy who resides in Corpus Christi in good standing and is endorsed for police chaplaincy by a religious organization or denomination recognized by the State of Texas.

2. Complete a volunteer police chaplain background investigation.

3. Be a U.S. citizen and possess a valid and current Texas driver’s license.

4. Have NOT been convicted or under investigation of a Class B misdemeanor or greater offense.

5. Have NOT been convicted or under investigation of any family violence offense.

6. Have not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude

Application Process: Includes but is not limited to the following:

1. Complete an initial interview with the Senior Police Chaplain.

2. Complete and return the Corpus Christi Police Chaplain Application.

3. Submit a copy your ordination and/or license and a letter of endorsement for police chaplaincy from your religious organization.

4. Sign the CCPD annual police chaplain commitment agreement.

5. Endorse and sign the International Conference of Police Chaplains Code of Ethics.

6. Endorse and sign the Corpus Christi Police Chaplain Vision Statement.

7. Complete and return CCPD Police Chaplain background packet; successfully pass CCPD Police Chaplain background investigation.

8. Successfully complete CCPD Police Chaplain Basic Certification Training Course.

9. Successfully complete an interview with the Corpus Christi Police Chaplain Personnel Committee.

10. Complete police chaplain field training program of at least three to six months.

11. Receive recommendation for appointment to chaplain from CCPD Senior Police Chaplain.

12. Be approved and appointed as a Police Chaplain by the Corpus Christi Chief of Police.

Completion and appointment as Police Chaplaincy:

1. Participate in the Police Chaplain training program at a minimum of twelve hours annually.

2. Provide services as an On-Call Police Chaplain for a one month period.

3. Graduate from the Corpus Christi Citizens Police Academy within one year of appointment.

4. Complete a minimum of two police Ride-Alongs annually.

The Corpus Christi Police Department celebrated two promotions in a ceremony with friends and family at the Police Headquarters Monday morning. Corpus Christi Police Chief Floyd Simpson promoted Anthony Sanders from the rank of Lieutenant to the rank of Captain.

Captain Sanders will be responsible as the supervisor for all officers assigned to the Bravo District on the east side of Corpus Christi which includes Flour Bluff and Padre Island. Captain Sanders was most recently assigned as a patrol shift supervisor and the Patrol K9 Handler supervisor.

Chief Simpson also promoted Rusty Jenkins from the rank of Senior Officer to the rank of Lieutenant. Lieutenant Jenkins will be responsible as a shift supervisor. Lieutenant Jenkins was most recently assigned as an internal affairs investigator.

Congratulations to both Captain Sanders and Lieutenant Jenkins for their hard work!

Status of the 71st:

The Corpus Christi Police Academy Cadets learned the operations and functions of the Corpus Christi Police Emergency Response Unit. The components of the Emergency Response Unit include The Hostage Negotiation Team, The Dive Team, The Bomb Squad, and SWAT. Representatives from each component of the Emergency Response Unit and the officers who work with the Patrol Dogs gave presentations today of their function on the department and the criteria for applying to these specialized units. The Cadets were informed when and how to appropriately activate these resources.

The Cadets have to read Chapters 6 & 7 of the Corpus Christi Police General Rules Manual over the weekend. Chapter 6 explains the policy of Internal Affairs Investigations and Chapter 7 provides the regulation of reporting and controlling criminal justice information.