All posts by Kirk Stowers

Adam District, Patrol Division, Traffic Safety Division

Vehicle Crash Disrupts Traffic on IH 37 at Navigation Blvd

Occurred Wednesday, December 26, 2012, 12:53pm, 5100 IH 37 Freeway Northbound, Major Crash C1209765

The northbound lanes of the Interstate Highway 37 near Navigation were reduced for about half an hour Wednesday afternoon as emergency crews worked a single vehicle crash in which Police discovered a felon in possession of a firearm.

Corpus Christi Police and Fire crews responded to a single vehicle crash on the freeway of the Interstate Highway 37 near Navigation Boulevard at 12:50pm. A gray 1995 Mercury Grand Marquis was operated by a 32-year-old man on the 5100 block of Interstate Highway 37. The 32-year-old man lost control of the Grand Marquis and struck the center concrete divider. The impact broke the left rear wheel off of the car and the Grand Marquis travelled across the highway and struck a steel barrier.

The 32-year-old operator was taken to the hospital by ambulance with non-incapacitating injuries.  The 42-year-old woman passenger was not injured.

Corpus Christi Police Crash Investigators consider speed to have been a contributing factor for the crash.  Police Officers discovered the 32-year-old man has a history of a conviction for a felony offense. Police Officers discovered a firearm with the 32-year-old man which prompted an investigation for any violation of a felon in possession of a firearm.

No citations were issued and no other vehicles or people were involved in the crash. The roadway was reopened to normal use at 1:30pm.

Bravo District, Patrol Division

Police Take Two Juveniles Into Custody For Burglary at Elementary School

Occurred Sunday, December 23, 2012, 21:22, 6121 Durant Drive, Burglary of a building, 1212230129

Corpus Christi Police took an 11-year-old boy and a 12-year-old boy into custody for burglary after they were found inside Blanche Moore Elementary School stealing supplies on Sunday night.

The Corpus Christi Police Patrol Officers were called to investigate an alarm at Blanche Moore Elementary School at 9:20pm. The responding officers saw a light on inside one of the classrooms and saw two juvenile boys inside the classroom looking through a cabinet.

One boy, who is 11 years old, was apprehended as he exited the school building. Police Officers then entered the building to apprehend the second boy who is 12 years old.

The boys were found with markers and notepads taken from the school supply inventory which amounted to $51 in value. The investigating officers found that a window had been left unlocked which was the point of entry for the two boys. There was no noted damage to the school.

The property was returned to the school, the officers locked the school, and the two juveniles were delivered to the Nueces County Juvenile Detention Center for Burglary of a Building, a state jail felony offense.

Charlie District, Patrol Division, Traffic Safety Division

Police Investigate Traffic Crash on Snowgoose & Believe Alcohol As A Factor

Occurred Wednesday, December 26, 2012, 2:18am, 5200 Snowgoose Road, Driving While Intoxicated, 1212260009

                Corpus Christi Police believe alcohol was a contributing factor to a crash in which a Camaro struck a brick fence and then damaged two other vehicles on the 5200 block of Snowgoose Road Wednesday morning.

A 23-year-old man drove a black 2012 Chevrolet Camaro at a high rate of speed on the 5200 block of Snowgoose Road at about 2:00am on Wednesday morning. The Camaro failed to negotiate a turn in the road and then struck a brick fence, and then struck a parked blue 1998 Mercury sedan in the driveway of a residence.

Bricks from the fence were thrown and damaged a silver 2005 Chevrolet Silverado pickup parked in the driveway of a second residence. There was also damage done to a house and the property owner estimated the damage at $32,000.

The 23-year-old man who drove the Camaro ran from the crash scene, but was later apprehended by Corpus Christi Police. The 23-year-old man was taken to the hospital and released for medical treatment. Corpus Christi Police crash investigators believe alcohol was a contributing factor to the crash and continue to investigate.

Corpus Christi Police made 28 arrests for impaired driving between December 21, and December 26, 2012. There were 19 arrests for Driving While Intoxicated; 2 arrests for D.W.I. with one previous conviction; 2 arrests for D.W.I. with two or more previous convictions; 2 arrests for D.W.I. with an open alcoholic beverage container in the vehicle; 2 arrests for D.W.I. with a blood alcohol concentration over .15; and 1 arrest for Driving Under the Influence (the driver was under the age of 21).

The Corpus Christi Police Department wants everyone to drive safely and designate a driver if they choose to drink alcoholic beverages. Corpus Christi Police will continue strict enforcement throughout the New Year’s Holiday.

Traffic Safety Division

Road Work Will Affect Traffic On Airline Road

The City of Corpus Christi Traffic Engineering office advises residents that beginning December 27, 2012, city contractors will close Airline road between Wall Street to Rodd Field.  In addition, eastbound traffic on Lipes Boulevard and Slough Road will be closed between Giants Drive and Rodd Field Road.

Eastbound Lipes Boulevard traffic will be detoured north onto Giants Drive, and eastbound Wall Street traffic will be detoured northbound onto Airline Road.

Traffic control devices will guide motorists through the construction site.  While the work is underway, motorists should expect delays and are advised to seek alternate routes to avoid the area if possible.  Motorists are also advised to observe all construction warning signs and barricades for their safety and that of construction crews.   Access to local driveways will be maintained throughout the duration of the project.

For more information, please contact Traffic Engineering at 826-3547.

Community Outreach

Police Deliver Food From Private Donor to Families In Need

The group of volunteers stand in front of the donated food before riding with Corpus Christi Police to Donate the food to families in need
The group of volunteers stand in front of the donated food before riding with Corpus Christi Police to Donate the food to families in need

The Corpus Christi Police Department delivered food provided by a private donor to families in need on Christmas Eve.

A private Donor arranged for food and other gifts to be delivered to families. Corpus Christi Police patrol officers identified families in need who would benefit from the donations.

The officers made a list of 135 families that would benefit from the donation and then arranged for volunteers to help deliver the food. The police officers and the volunteers gathered at the HEB at Robert and Alameda on Christmas Eve morning and set out to deliver the donations. The officers divided the volunteers into 10 groups and delivered the donated food and gifts throughout the city.

Corpus Christi Police Officer Javier Cantu said this is a great example of the patrol officers engaged in the community and understanding the needs of the individuals they serve. The private donor, who wished to remain anonymous, is greatly thanked by the Corpus Christi Police Department for their generosity and selfless spirit to improve the community in which we live.

 

Community Outreach

Police Communicate from the street to dispatchers at police headquarters

Christa Garrison at her work station on the 4th floor at Police Headquarters
Christa Garrison at her work station on the 4th floor at Police Headquarters

Corpus Christi Police Patrol Officers get information from Metrocom. The Metrocom dispatchers are on the 4th floor at the Police Headquarters building. The dispatcher assigned to the “Patrol 3” talk group is Christa Garrison. Garrison started with the Corpus Christi Metrocom in June 2011.

Community Outreach

The Patrol car gets loaded

This is some of the inventory in a Corpus Christi Police Patrol Car
This is some of the inventory in a Corpus Christi Police Patrol Car

Have you ever thought about what emergencies a police officer may encounter on their shift? This is a portion of my inventory. This includes: paper reports (because computers inevitably fail); the patrol bag; a first aid kit; a fire extinguisher; road flares; traffic cones; spike strips; ticket book; sun screen, bug spray (known as the company cologne); extra batteries; crime scene tape; gloves; reflective traffic vest; and rain gear.

Community Outreach

The Patrol Shift Starts With Roll Call

Lieutenant Tim Brown conducts roll call at the Saratoga Sub-station
Lieutenant Tim Brown conducts roll call at the Saratoga Sub-station

The patrol shift starts with roll call. This is a time when attendance is taken, inspections are conducted, short training sessions are instructed, and important events are discussed. The patrol officers interact with their supervisor to receive special instructions or become of crime trends, law updates, fugitive information and a variety of other police related tasks and information.

There are currently four patrol districts in the Corpus Christi City limits. Each district has a sub-station. Each district is divided into beats. One patrol officer is assigned a beat and the supervisor, at the grade of Lieutenant, is responsible for the shift that covers all the beats in one district.

The Corpus Christi Police have typically four shifts in a day so that shifts overlap to provide 2 officers on a beat to allow for transition for officers to end their work day. This is a system so that a beat is not left unattended while officers clock out and others clock in to work.

Community Outreach

Welcome to the Virtual Ride Along!

Corpus Christi Police Officer Kirk Stowers will conduct the "Tweet Along" December 21, 2012 starting at 2pm.
Corpus Christi Police Officer Kirk Stowers will conduct the “Tweet Along” December 21, 2012 starting at 2pm.

Welcome to the Corpus Christi Police Virtual Ride Along. This is the opportunity for you to witness police activity in real-time from the comfort of home. Messages, pictures and information will be sent out on Twitter at the address @CorpusChristiPD. We encourage your participation, so please ask questions as you follow the program. Be aware that the officer will be driving and responding to police work, so be patient if there is a delay for response to questions.

The officer with which you will witness is Officer Kirk Stowers. Officer Stowers entered the police academy in May 2002 and served on patrol until his transfer to the Public Information Office in March 2012.

Officer Stowers will be a part of the Corpus Christi Police Holiday Initiative today. The Holiday Initiative is a project from the police department each year to provide extra patrols to the densely populated shopping areas in order to direct traffic, reduce crime, reduce the fear of crime, and to enhance public safety.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy the Virtual Ride Along!

Community Outreach

Police Deliver Cheer to Patients at Driscoll Children’s Hospital

Corpus Christi Police Officers Justin Wicks, Jason Lee, Assistant chief Mike Markle, Captain Ed Shannon, Bob Dorche, and Rodney Cantu delivered stuffed animals and "get well" cards to patients at Driscoll Children's Hospital on December 21.
Corpus Christi Police Officers Justin Wicks, Jason Lee, Assistant chief Mike Markle, Captain Ed Shannon, Bob Dorche, and Rodney Cantu delivered stuffed animals and “get well” cards to patients at Driscoll Children’s Hospital on December 21.

Several Corpus Christi Police Officers delivered stuffed animals and “get well” cards to the children at the Driscoll Children’s hospital Friday morning, December 21.

The animals were donated to the police department and the officers delivered the animals to sick children in an effort to provide comfort as the children spend time away from home. The cards were signed by various areas of the police department which included patrol officers, dispatchers, administrative staff, and the chiefs of police.

The officers brought 30 stuffed animals and cards and visited with up to 25 patients at the hospital. The officers say they have a heart for children and want to provide some comfort and a little joy.

This was the first time the police department has participated in this giving event and say this may become a more regular activity.