Corpus Christi Police Officer Matthew Thebeau was killed in the line of duty January 20, 2008 at age 25. Officer Thebeau was killed in a vehicle crash on State Highway 286 near Baldwin Blvd while responding to an assault in progress call at 2:50 in the morning.

Officer Thebeau’s patrol car struck a concrete wall and straddled the barrier for approximately 50 yards until it impacted an I-beam supporting a highway sign. He was ejected from the patrol car and then struck by another vehicle traveling in the opposite direction. He was transported to Spohn Memorial Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

Officer Thebeau served with the Corpus Christi Police Department for two years and graduated from the 65^th Academy Session. A park was dedicated and named in memorial to Officer Matt Thebeau and is located at 3221 Richmond Street, Corpus Christi, Texas 78410 near Up River Road and McKenzie Road.

Follow the status of the Corpus Christi Police Department’s 71^st Police Academy Session through social media and observe the cadets transition into sworn police officers over the course of their training. The Corpus Christi Police Department’s 71^st Academy Session begins January 21, 2013 and the Police Department will allow the public a glimpse into their training and experiences through our social media sites at Twitter and Facebook.

The public will be able to watch videos, pictures, and read about their training as the cadets learn the skills required to become fully sworn Corpus Christi Police Officers. The public is invited to participate to check the “Status Updates of the 71^st”on the City of Corpus Christi Police Department Facebook, and on Twitter @CorpusChristiPD with hashtag #CCPD71.

The purpose of this new initiative is to share with the public a unique and convenient way to view of the training and requirements for a person to become a Corpus Christi Police Officer. The public will be able to ask questions and learn about our process through the use of the social media.

Please join us Monday January 21, 2013 as we welcome the cadets into training and we begin to check the status of the 71^st.

The Corpus Christi Crime Stoppers hosted a Judges appreciation luncheon Thursday at the Ortiz Center in a fundraising program with guest speakers from the Emergency Services in Corpus Christi.

The guest speakers for the fundraiser lunch were Corpus Christi Police Chief Floyd Simpson, Nueces County Sheriff Jim Kaelin, and Corpus Christi Fire Chief Robert Rocha.

The purpose of the luncheon was to raise money for the Crime Stoppers program which is an independent non-profit organization. Funding for the program is solely from donations and not any from tax dollars. The donations are used to reward those who call into Crime Stoppers to provide information about unsolved crimes which leads to an arrest, and the donations cover operating expenses. Those who do call into Crime Stoppers are anonymous and their information is kept confidential and protected even for criminal trial.

The Corpus Christi Crime Stoppers board members are volunteers and donate their time for the operation of the program and to host events like this luncheon. The Luncheon is the opportunity to thank judges for support to the Crime Stoppers program. Criminal law judges are able to apply fees to probation which  benefit the Crime Stoppers program to provide rewards to tipsters for providing information about unsolved crimes.

Anyone interested in the Crime Stoppers program may visit the website www.888TIPS.com for information.

Contributed by Charlie Cardenas, P.E., Traffic Engineering

The City of Corpus Christi Traffic Engineering office advises residents beginning Thursday, January 17, 2013, between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., weather permitting, American Electric Power (AEP) will be doing utility work on Staples Street between Peerman Place and Hamlin Drive.

While this work is underway, this section of Staples Street will be reduced to one lane of traffic in each direction.  Flaggers will be on site to guide motorist through the intersection.

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.

Occurred on 1/13/13, 10:06am  Missing Person  2606 Hospital Blvd.  1301130047

The Corpus Christi Police Department is asking the public’s assistance in locating a man reported missing on January 13, 2013.  The man’s brother told Police he visited with his brother Eric Phillip Barnes, 44, on January 4, 2013 at a local hospital.

Barnes was released later that day and the family has been searching for him since.  His brother told Officers that Eric suffers from COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and mental issues.  Eric is in need of his oxygen and medications.

If you have seen Eric or know his whereabouts, we ask that you call Homicide/Robbery Detective R.L. Garcia at 361-886-2850 or the Corpus Christi Police Department at 361-886-2600.

***UPDATE*** Mr. Barnes has been located and is doing well. We would like to thank everyone in the community for their assistance.

Contributed by Charlie Cardenas, P.E., Traffic Engineering

New – Chaparral Street and Schatzell Street Intersection

Monday – Friday

During the week of January 14, 2013 and for approximately five weeks, the intersection of Chaparral Street and Schatzell Street will be closed for major utility work.

Schatzell Street:  From Shoreline Boulevard, Schatzell Street westbound traffic will be detoured onto Water Street.

In addition, Schatzell Street will be closed to through traffic between Water Street and Mesquite Street.  Parking will be permitted on this section of Schatzell.

Chaparral Street:  Chaparral Street will become a two-way traffic between Lawrence Street and Schatzell Street where parking will be allowed on this section of the Chaparral.  Motorists are cautioned to be aware of those vehicles that are entering and exiting this section of Chaparral at the Lawrence Street intersection.

McBride Lane (Between Leopard Street and IH-37 Eastbound Frontage Road)

Monday – Friday James Street and Erin Drive:  Erin Drive will be closed at the McBride intersection.  Access to James Street and Erin Drive will be through the IH-37 frontage road and both streets – James and Erin – will be closed to through traffic.

McBride Lane:  McBride Lane will be closed to traffic between IH-37 frontage road and Hampshire Road.  Eastbound traffic on IH-37 frontage road will be detour onto to southbound Navigation Boulevard, onto westbound Leopard Street, to McBride Lane.   Traffic on McBride Lane will be detoured onto westbound Hampshire Road to South Padre Island Drive.

Kostoryz Road

Saturday – Friday (24-hour closure)

Northbound Kostoryz Road traffic will be shifted onto the southbound lanes between S.P.I.D. and Sunnybrook Road, and again shifted onto the northbound lanes approximately 500 feet past Sunnybrook.  Traffic, on these two sections of Kostoryz Road, will be reduced to one lane of traffic in each direction.   In addition, traffic on eastbound McArdle Road will be shifted onto the westbound lane where traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction through the Kostoryz Road intersection.

New – Staples Street (Williams Street to Saratoga Boulevard)

Saturday – Friday (24-hour closure)

Wooldridge Road:  The Wooldridge Road traffic will be shifted onto the westbound lanes and traffic will be reduced to one through lane in each direction through the Staples Street Intersection.

Staples Street:  Contractors will shift the southbound Staples Street traffic and reduce it to one through lane in each direction from the Moore Plaza entrance through the Williams Drive intersection.  Southbound drivers will have dedicated right and left turn lanes at Williams Drive.  Northbound drivers will have a dedicated right turn lane at Williams Drive but “No Left Turns” will be permitted.

On Staples Street, from Wooldridge Road to north of Holly Road, there are two lanes of traffic open in each direction.  Staples Street traffic, between Cain Drive and Bonner Drive, will be shifted onto the northbound lanes and traffic reduced to one through lane in each direction.

Cain Drive:  Cain Drive is closed at the intersection of Staples Street.  Traffic detours will be through Burton Lane to Holly Road.

Sarazen Drive:  Contractors will permit only inbound traffic to enter Sarazen from Staples Street, and traffic exiting must continue north on Sarazen and exit onto Wooldridge Road.

New – Rodd Field Road and Williams Drive

Saturday – Monday

Contractors will shift traffic onto the northbound lanes and reduce traffic to one through lane in each direction at the Rodd Field Road and Williams Drive intersection.  The “No Left Turns” will continue to be enforced.