Category Archives: Community Outreach

Community Outreach

Police Hold Ceremony To Promote Two Captains and Two Lieutenants

(left to right) Captain Kevin Bolles; Captain Donnie Moore; Lieutenant Mel Goce; and Lieutenant David Saldana
(left to right) Captain Kevin Bolles; Captain Donnie Moore; Lieutenant Mel Goce; and Lieutenant David Saldana
Corpus Christi Chief of Police, Mike Markle, hosted a ceremony today at Police Headquarters to promote Captain Donnie Moore, Captain Kevin Bolles, Lieutenant David Saldana, and Lieutenant Mel Goce.
Corpus Christi Police Lieutenants are first line supervisors and Lieutenants Goce and Saldana will be assigned to a patrol shift of about ten to twelve patrol Officers. Corpus Christi Police Captains are second line supervisors and are assigned to a variety of functions in the Police Department.

Donald Moore

Lt. Donnie Moore is a 16 year veteran with the Corpus Christi Police Department and a graduate of the 59th academy.  During his career he has been assigned to patrol and has supervised the K9 unit, SWAT (where he has spent the last 13 years of his career) and CID’s Auto Theft Task Force.  He is currently working on his Bachelor’s degree.  Lt. Moore is married and has three children.  Moore’s father, Donald Moore, Sr. pinned the badge.

Kevin Bolles

Lt. Kevin Bolles started his law enforcement career at the Seminole County, Oklahoma Sheriff’s Department in 1991 where he was a deputy, narcotics investigator and detective. In 2000 he graduated from the 59th academy and became part of Corpus Christi’s finest.  He has been assigned to patrol, Narcotics Vice Investigations, Project management for Homeland Defense Citywide video systems, Project Manager for Video Command Center and Mobil Command Center, and the supervisor assigned to MIS and IT.  Lt. Bolles current holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Law Enforcement Administration from Ashford University and an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Seminole State College.  He is married, has three children and one granddaughter.  Bolles’ wife pinned the badge.

David Saldana

Senior Officer Saldana is a 9 year veteran with the Corpus Christi Police Department and is a graduate of the 66th academy. He has been the recipient of many commendations to include Officer of Month 5 times and recognized as Corpus Christi’s Outstanding Police Officer by Goodwill Industries for 2011 and 2012. Senior Officer Saldana graduated Cuma Sum Laude from Del Mar College in 2010 and holds 3 associate degrees. He is married and has three children. Saldana’s  wife pinned the badge.

Melvyn Goce

Senior Officer Melvyn Goce is a 22 year veteran with the Corpus Christi Police Department and a graduate of the 52nd academy.  During his career he has been assigned to SWAT, Narcotics Vice Investigations, Backgrounds and Recruiting and CALEA.  Senior Officer Goce has been the recipient of a Certificate of Merit, Officer of the year and currently hold a Bachelor’s and Associates degree.  He has four children.  Goce’s badge was pinned by Corpus Christi Police Chief Mike Markle.

Congratulations to those who were promoted today and good luck on your new assignments!
Community Outreach

Morgan Avenue Murder- Update

Date: 5/2/2016    12:10 AM
Location: 3100 Morgan Avenue
Offense: Murder
P.C.  19.02      First Degree Felony
Case Number: 1605020002

We believe that Jesus Espino and Javier Castro were involved in this Murder.   It appears that they were transported across the border into Mexico the same day of the murder. No arrest warrants exist at this time

Espino, Jesus
Jesus Espino
Javier Castro
Javier Castro

 

 Anyone who has information about these two suspects should contact the Corpus Christi Police Department at 886-2840. Information about unsolved crimes may also be provided to investigators anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or online at 888TIPS.com. Information provided to Crime Stoppers which results in an arrest may earn the caller a cash reward.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Community Outreach

Morgan Avenue Murder- Update

Date: 5/2/2016    12:10 AM
Location: 3100 Morgan Avenue
Offense: Murder
P.C.  19.02      First Degree Felony
Case Number: 1605020002


Corpus Christi Police Homicide Detectives are looking into a dispute that led to a shooting in the parking lot of a nightclub located at 3149 Morgan Avenue.  

Officers arrived at the scene and found a 27 year old female with what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the head.  The female was transported to Spohn Memorial Hospital by CCFD EMS were she was later pronounced dead.

Mary Elizabeth Cantu, 10/09/1965, was arrested on 05/02/2016 at 5:10 p.m. on a charge of Hindering Apprehension.  She is accused of transporting the suspect and two witnesses into Mexico several hours after the shooting.

Corpus Christi Police would like anyone with any information about this case to provide that information to Homicide Detectives by calling 886-2600. The public is encouraged to provide any information they believe may be related to this case no matter how seemingly insignificant and the public should not assume Police have the information.

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Community Outreach

Suspect In Reported Kidnapping Attempt Has Been Identified

 

Date: Wednesday, March 30, 2016, 17:25
Location: 3100 Ruth Street
Offense: Kidnapping (attempted) (Texas Penal Code Section 20.03) 3rd degree felony
Case Number: 1603300143

The suspect of this reported Kidnapping attempt has been positively identified.

Persistence, hard work, and acute observation skills by Lt. Brian Hill paid off yesterday and he was able to find the person that was wanted for questioning in this March 30 incident.  The suspect cooperated with Lt. Hill and spoke with investigators yesterday evening.  He was released at this time pending further investigation and consultation with the District Attorneys Office.

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Community Outreach

Whitewing Drive Burglary/Shooting Suspect Has Been Booked

Anthony Molina, 08/19/1981,  was booked at the City Detention Center on 05/05/2016 at 1:39 p.m. Molina had been in a local hospital, under guard, since the time that he was taken into custody.  He was booked on a Warrant that stemmed from charges related to the Burglary, Shooting, and Evading Arrest incident that occurred in the 6700 Block of Whitewing Dr. on April 30, 2016.

Molina was transferred to the Nueces County Jail and is being held on a $250,000 bond.

Corpus Christi Police Detectives would like to have complete information related to this case and urge anyone with any information about this case to call 886-2600 and provide the information to Detectives in reference to case number 1604300013.

The Corpus Christi Police have Crime Victim’s Advocates and encourage anyone in Corpus Christi in a potentially violent relationship to reach out to Police and community resources for early intervention

Community Outreach

Police Remember Fallen Officer Elias T. Mussett Jr.

Corpus Christi City Marshall Elias Mussett Jr
Corpus Christi City Marshall Elias Mussett Jr

Contributed by Commander John Houston

On May 5, 1892, the citizens of Corpus Christi were celebrating Cinco De Mayo with a parade down Leopard St in the area of where the courthouse is today to the uptown bluff. Elias Mussett Jr had just been relected as the City Marshall and would start his second term that day. Mussett rode at the front of the parade and was soon joined by his daughter Lillian on horseback. The celebration lasted all evening and prior to going to his  home he made one last patrol of the city.

City Marshall Elias T Mussett Jr. had run against a subject named John Parker. Parker was a local trouble maker who the city council hired as a city police officer just three days before the murder even though everyone in the town told the council not to hire him. Parker had made numerous threats to kill Mussett during the election.

At approx 1am on May 6th, Mussett  stopped to speak with a local standing outside the Pancho Grande bar which was located near what is now Waco and Leopard St. As Mussett spoke with the subject about the nights activities, Parker rode up in the dark and came to Mussett’s right side. Without as much as a word Parker fired one shot from his pistol killing Mussett immediately. Parker fled the area and went downtown to the police station located on what is now Mesquite St north of IH 37 and turned himself in for Mussett’s murder. Parker was charged with Murder and his trial began within one day. After days of testimony, Parker was found guilty of Murder and sentenced to life in prison with hard labor. He was sent to the Huntsville, Texas Walls Unit to serve his sentence. The entire city closed for his funeral. Mussett was buried in Rose Hill Cemetary on land that belonged to his father, an original founder of Corpus Christi.

Mussett is the first documented In the Line of Duty Death of a CCPD officer.  Please remember City Marshall Elias Mussett Jr. and his family in your thoughts and prayers this day.

Community Outreach

Animal Care Services Uses Grant Funds to Increase Adoptions

The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) launched its third year of the ASPCA & Subaru Share the Love Event “Rescue Ride” grant program. The grant program helps transport thousands of homeless dogs from overcrowded shelters to shelters in areas where they have a better chance of being adopted. Thanks to funding from the annual Share the Love Event, the program will grant a total of $189,000 in funding to 49 organizations to cover transportation costs. The City of Corpus Christi Animal Care and Vector Services is proud to announce that it has received $9,000 from this ASPCA grant program.

On behalf of Chief Mike Markle and the Corpus Christi Police Department we would like to thank ASPCA and Subaru for selecting us for this grant and we look forward to utilizing it to make a difference for our citizens and animals.

 

Community Outreach

City Hosts Vehicle Auction Saturday

The City of Corpus Christi will auction 126 cars, trucks, and motorcycles at the Police Vehicle Impound Lot, located at 5485 Greenwood Drive, on Saturday, May 14, 2016. The auction will start at 10:00 am.

The general public is encouraged to register and view the vehicles for auction from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Friday, May 13, 2016. The general public can continue to view the vehicles from 8:00 am to 10:00 am on the day of the auction.

The vehicles for auction may be viewed online and an auction list may be downloaded from www.siskauction.com.

Community Outreach, Narcotics/Vice Division

Drop Off Unused Prescription Meds Tomorrow: D.E.A.’S National Prescription Take-Back Day Is Saturday

jpg Drug take back poster

After collecting and destroying 5.5 million pounds—2,762 tons—of unused prescription drugs in the past 5 years, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is continuing its efforts to take back unused, unwanted and expired prescription medications.  The DEA invites the public to bring their potentially dangerous, unwanted medicines to one of over 5,000 collection sites around the country that are manned by more than 3,800 of DEA’s tribal and local law enforcement partners.  This service is free of charge, with no questions asked.

The public can find a nearby collection site by visiting www.dea.gov, clicking on the “Got Drugs?” icon, and entering their zip code into the search window, or they can call 800-882-9539.  Only pills and other solids, like patches, will be accepted—the public should not bring liquids, needles or other sharps to take back sites.

America is presently experiencing an epidemic of addiction, overdose and death due to abuse of prescription drugs, particularly opioid painkillers.  6.5 million Americans abuse prescription drugs, according to the most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health, more than abuse cocaine, heroin, and hallucinogens combined.

“Most prescription drug abusers get their pills from friends and family, including from the household medicine cabinet,” said DEA Acting Administrator Chuck Rosenberg.  “Please remove unwanted prescription drugs from your homes and help prevent substance abuse fueled by our medicine cabinets.”

Drug overdoses are now the leading cause of injury-related death in the United States, eclipsing deaths from motor vehicle crashes or firearms.  The removal from homes of unwanted prescription pills that can be abused, stolen or resold is an easy way to help fight the epidemic of substance abuse and addiction.
Collection sites are at the following locations in Corpus Christi, Alice, and Kingsville:  

Alice Police Department – 415 E. Main, Alice, Texas 78332

Corpus Christi Army Depot/Naval Air Station (Restricted to Military Personnel) – Corpus Christi, Texas 78419

Goodwill Store – 2961 S. Port, Corpus Christi, Texas 78405

Huntington Plaza – 5300 Saratoga, Corpus Christi, Texas 78413

KIII TV Station – 5002 SPID, Corpus Christi, Texas 78411

Kingsville Chamber of Commerce – 635 East King Avenue, Kingsville, Texas 78363

Nueces County Precinct 1 – 11408 Leopard, Corpus Christi, Texas 78401

Nueces County Precinct 2 – 10110 Compton, Corpus Christi, Texas 78418

Community Outreach

Police Announce Buc Days Parade Guidelines

Those who attend the Buc Days Illuminated Parade scheduled for Saturday, April 30, 2016 should be aware of a few guidelines to make the event fun and safe for everyone. Follow the Corpus Christi Police Twitter feed at @CorpusChristiPD for updates and progress of the parade.

The Parade route will close to traffic at 5:00pm.

Paraders are allowed to occupy their spot along the parade route starting at 5pm Friday. The open container ordinance remains in effect throughout the night on April 29. Alcohol consumption is only allowed on Saturday, April 30, from 8pm-10pm.

No one is allowed to block the public rights of way or entrances to private property and no one is permitted to be on private property without the owners consent. If a portable toilet is rented, it may be placed on the city property along the parade route, but not block any sidewalk, public right of way, or others access to the parade route.

There are a few prohibited items along the parade route. The use of any air horns, any Fireworks, Silly String, and impact firecrackers are all prohibited, so the public is encouraged to leave those items at home. Those who attend the parade are encouraged to bring trash containers to collect and remove their garbage. Everyone that attends should also be mindful of the City Ordinance Section 23-63 for littering in prohibited places.

The parade is a family event and there will be children enjoying the parade. The Corpus Christi Police wants everyone to enjoy the parade and promote a safe environment for all who attend.