Seven Corpus Christi Police Officers were promoted to the rank of Senior Officer Wednesday, February 27, 2013 in a ceremony with Chief of Police Floyd Simpson at the Corpus Christi Police Department.

The officers successfully completed a proficiency exam which covered material from publications such as the Corpus Christi Police General Rules Manual, the Texas Criminal and Traffic Laws Manual, the Texas Penal Code, the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, the Texas Family Code, the Texas  Transportation Code, and the text-book titled Leadership, Ethics, and Policing for the 21^st Century by P.J. Ortmeier and Edwin Meese.

The officers must have attained 60 months of service as a commissioned officer in the Corpus Christi Police Department to be eligible to take the exam. Other requirements to take the exam are that they possess an Intermediate Peace Officer license issued by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Education or at least have 60 hours college credit from an accredited college or university.

The Senior Officer exam was graded as an individual pass or fail examination with a minimum score of 70% required to pass the exam.

The Corpus Christi Police Department celebrates the newly promoted Senior Officers: Jamie L. Pelfrey, Isaac Rodriguez, Jason P. Tello, Daniel H. Sotello, Ernesto R. Coronado, William M. Hobbs, Eusebio Cano Jr.

The Corpus Christi Police Department’s commitment to “Keep Corpus Christi Safe” has continued with its “Zero Tolerance No Insurance Initiative”

On Saturday, March 2, 2013, a total of 95 cars, trucks, and motorcycles will be auctioned at the Corpus Christi Police Department’s  Vehicle Impound Lot located at 5485 Greenwood Drive during our monthly auction. The site has four paved acres for an auction lot.

Approximately 17 of these vehicles are “No Insurance” impounds. On Friday, March 1, 2013, the general public will be allowed to register and view the vehicles to be auctioned from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. There is no registration fee.

On the day of the auction, the general public can continue to register and view the vehicles from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. The auction will commence promptly at 10:00 a.m.   The vehicles to be auctioned can be viewed at www.siskauction.com. An auction list may also be downloaded from the same website.

The department’s strong stand and enforcement of this “Zero Tolerance No Insurance Initiative” will continue and all vehicles involved in accidents will be impounded and the driver cited if they are unable to provide financial proof of insurance. Driver’s license and proof of financial responsibility checkpoints will continue to be conducted at the Shift Captains’ authorization.

During 2012, Officers issued 5,756 citations for Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility and impounded 1,009 vehicles.  In 2013, Officers have issued 487 citations and impounded 140 for the same charge.

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.

Chief Floyd Simpson and former Chief of Police Troy Riggs were recently highlighted in a national publication. The Police Executive Research Forum included case studies from departments in Camden NJ, Lane County OR, Manchester, England and Corpus Christi Texas.

The publication focused on the strategies that the agencies used when they were faced with significant budget cuts. The Corpus Christi Police Department was chosen as the first of the studies. Topics included are: Maintaining and Improving the Patrol Function, Tactics for Avoiding Layoffs, Impact on Crime, Parking Control, Maintaining Employee Morale and the Chief’s Perspective on The Future of Policing.

Chief Simpson attributed the success of the Department and the national recognition on the hard work of the Officers, the support of the community and the exposure from the media. “Without each of these three, the story would not be told” he said. Chief Simpson went on to say that the support of the council and city manager are also a key role in this process. “In these lean budget times, we must be more efficient” he concluded.

The publication is available online by visiting the PERF website @ http://www.policeforum.org/

 

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.

The Corpus Christi Police Department are hosting a Citizen’s Police Academy that begins February 26, 2013 and meets every Tuesday Evening from 6:30pm until 9:30pm at the Police Training Center located at 4510 Corona Drive. This will be the 41st Session of the Citizen’s Police Academy hosted by the Corpus Christi Police Department.

The Citizen’s Police Academy (C.P.A.) is a partnership with the citizens of Corpus Christi and the Corpus Christi Police Department. The benefits of such a partnership can only help strengthen the entire community in public safety and quality of life.

A police agency cannot be effective without the trust of its citizens. The Citizen Police Academy program builds that trust. Through education, it provides a bridge between the officer in the car and the citizens in the field. Citizens will gain an appreciation of the problems and challenges facing law enforcement and have an opportunity to offer comments and ideas regarding solutions. Those citizens then become the police department’s “goodwill ambassadors” throughout the community.

As a result graduates are better equipped to assess safety issues, and share with others their knowledge of law enforcement practices and policies.

There are several hands-on exercises and, at the end of the program, you will participate in role play exercises and make decisions as a police officer would. You will also be signed up for a 4-hour “Tour of Duty” and ride with an officer to see first-hand what happens on the street.

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

Chaparral Street and Schatzell Street Intersection

Monday – Friday

Schatzell Street:  From Shoreline Boulevard, Schatzell Street westbound traffic will be detoured onto Water Street.  In addition, Schatzell Street will close to through traffic between Water Street and Mesquite Street.  Parking will be permitted on this section of Schatzell Street.

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

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

Monday – Friday

Construction is temporarily suspended and all streets are open to through traffic.

Kostoryz Road

Saturday – Friday

Contractors will work on Kostoryz Road between South Padre Island Drive (S.P.I.D.) and Mansheim Boulevard.  During this period, there will be various lane shifts and traffic will be reduced to one through lane in each direction.  Upon completion, traffic between S.P.I.D and Gollihar Road will be shifted onto the northbound lanes and reduced to one through lane in each direction.

In addition, traffic on eastbound McArdle Road will be shifted to 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

Holly Road:

Until further notice, left turns are restricted on Holly Road from northbound Staples Street. Southbound Staples Street drivers on cannot turn left onto Holly Road and right turns will be restricted when the traffic signal is on red.  There are no turning restrictions for westbound and eastbound drivers on Holly Road onto Staples Street but no left turns are allowed from northbound Staples Street at Williams Drive.

Wooldridge Road:  The Wooldridge Road traffic through the Staples Street intersection will be shifted onto the westbound lanes and reduced to one through lane in each direction.  There are no left turns from both northbound and southbound Staples Street onto Wooldridge Road.

Staples Street:  Contractors will shift the southbound Staples Street traffic onto the northbound lane reducing traffic to one through lane in each direction from the Moore Plaza entrance through the Williams Drive intersection.  Southbound drivers will have dedicated right turn while northbound drivers will have a dedicated right turn lane at Williams Drive, but no left turns are permitted.

On Staples Street, from Woodridge 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.

Bonner Drive, Cain Drive, or Curtis Clark Drive:  Cain Drive, Bonner Drive, or Curtis Clark Drive may be periodically closed at the Staples Street intersection.  Motorists will be detoured onto Burton Lane.  In addition, when one street is closed, the other may be reduced to one lane with flaggers to direct traffic.  Once work is completed, each street will be closed for 10 days to pour concrete and allow the pavement to cure.

Today marks the 53rd Anniversary of Sergeant Frank Dolan’s In the Line of Duty Death.

On February 12, 1960 Sergeant Frank Dolan was killed in an automobile accident on Highway 624, near Orange Grove, while returning to Corpus Christi from a meeting in Alice.

His vehicle went out of control on a curve in the road during a period of snow and slushy conditions. His car was broadsided by another vehicle, causing him to suffer fatal injuries.

Sergeant Dolan was a U.S. Navy veteran and had served with the Corpus Christi Police Department for 24 years. He was survived by his wife and three children.

Read more: http://www.odmp.org/officer/21563-sergeant-frank-edward-dolan#ixzz2KiZb6qk6