Category Archives: Community Outreach

Community Outreach

Chief Simpson Announces Promotions

Chief Floyd Simpson today announced the promotion of Commander Mark Schauer and Commander Mike Markle to the position of Assistant Chief.  Schauer and Markle will join current Assistant Chief J.V. Garcia as the Corpus Christi Police Department’s second highest ranking police officials. Schauer and Markle will fill the vacancies created when former Assistant Chief Steve Mylett left the department in November of 2011 to become Chief of Police in Southlake, Texas; the third Assistant Chief Position was approved by the City Council last week.   One of Chief Simpson’s first goals as Chief was to create a new organizational structure that ensures that all facets of the department were given adequate attention, and that units with similar goals, such as the Gang Unit and Narcotics, work together under the same command.   This new command structure will ensure that important operations such as recruiting and training will be given the attention they deserve, and that potential problems can be identified and corrected before they become major issues.

CCPD Asst. Chief Mark Schauer
Commander Mark Schauer

Commander Mark Schauer is a 30 veteran of the police department and has served as the Commander of the Support Services Division since January of 2011.  Schauer has also commanded the Uniform Patrol and Narcotics/Vice Divisions. Schauer is a graduate of the F.B.I. National Academy, the Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas (LEMIT) and holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Texas A&M University Corpus Christi, where he teaches as an adjunct professor. Schauer has supervised in almost every division in the Department, including Training, CID, MetroCom, Narcotics/Vice, and Traffic. In addition, Commander Schauer is in charge of the City’s Public Integrity Team, a specialized group of Police Department and City Officials who are assigned to investigate complaints of public corruption by city employees.  Commander Schauer was recently tasked with overseeing the reorganization of the City’s Animal Control center.

CCPD Asst. Chief Mike Markle
Commander Mike Markle

Commander Mike Markle is a 22 year veteran of the CCPD, having served as Commander of CID since January 2011. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Saint Leo University and has served most of his career (17 years) in the Uniform Division. He spent 7 years on the SWAT team, has served as a Field Training Officer and was a member of the Police Department Honor Guard. Markle has received a Lifesaving Award and a Community Service Award from the Housing Authority.   In his previous role as a Captain in Support Services he played an important role in the updating of the Department’s 911 system, upgrading the dispatch area, and assisted in obtaining a federal grant to remodel the outdated communications center.Schauer and Markle will begin their new assignments next week.  A formal promotional ceremony will be held Monday May 7th at 2:00 PM in the fifth floor auditorium of the  Main Police Building.

Charlie District, Community Outreach

Juvenile Charged with Two Counts of Graffiti

Occurred on 5/2/12, 10:35 pm   Graffiti   1400 Acapulco     1205020160 

Officer B. Gaines observed several youths gathered at the 1400 block of Acapulco, three of which he dealt on drug and graffiti related offenses.  The Officer contacted a 13-year-old who he’d issued a curfew citation to the night before and took him home. 

The mother asked for the Officer’s assistance with the teenager as he was sneaking out and vandalizing their home with graffiti.  While the Officer was talking to the mother, the 13-year-old ran out of the home and jumped onto the roof of the garage in attempt to hide from the Officer. 

The teen’s father found him and he was taken into custody.  Further investigation revealed, the juvenile had not only tagged his parent’s home, but several stop signs, no parking signs, an electrical box and outlet belonging to the City of Corpus Christi along with two signs belonging to Champion Hyundai.  The juvenile also tagged several fences belonging to elderly residents living in the Sacky area. 

The  juvenile was booked at the Nueces County Juvenile Justice Center and charged with two counts of Graffiti. The total estimated vandalism was valued at $1,700.

Is your child a tagger?  The following are indicators your child is tagging, for further information or assistance, please contact Detective Steve Smith with the Corpus Christi Graffiti Task Force at 361-886-2942. 

Profile of a Tagger
Is your Child’s Name All Over Town?
Some indications that your child may be a tagger are:
Your child stays out until early morning or all night
Your child frequently wears a large backpack or baggy pants.
Clothing my be paint-stained.
Packs and loose clothing can be used to hold paint cans or carry graffiti tools
Your child carries tools used for etching glass
Your child has taken up the hobby of ink marking.
Your child has large quantities of magic markers, shoe polish containers, or other devices used for drawing.
Your child sleeps during the day and is active outdoors at night.
Your child paint on the tips of his/her fingers.
Your child frequently has permanent marker stains on his/her hands.
Your child has graffiti magazines, flyers, a “piece” book, or portfolio of tags.
Your child possesses large quantities of “my name is” stickers or other large stickers used for “sticker tagging.”
Your child is in possession of graffiti paraphernalia, such as markers, etching tools, spray pain, bug spray, and starch cans.  The bug spray cans are used to make tags that will only show up in the rain.
Your child is in the age group statistically associated with tagging: ages 12 to 18.
Your child has graffiti displays or tags on clothing, binders, backpack, and the underside of the bill of their hat.  Tags you see on the walls of your neighborhood are seen on your child’s walls, books, and clothing.
Your hild is frequently deceitful about his/her activities.
Your child has quantities of paint in cans, but does not have the income to afford it.
Your child associates with other children with the same traits.
Your child’s Internet web browser has bookmarks to graffiti advocate websites.
Your child has photographs of graffiti and tags on walls that loo familiar to you.
Your child actively reads the alternate graffiti news group website.

Please remember, that taggers come from every race, religion, social groups, as well as from every socioeconomic status.

Community Outreach, Delta District

Prescription Drug Take-Back-Day Exceeds Last Year’s Total

The Corpus Christi Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration hosted the 3rd Annual Prescription Drug Take-Back-Day on Saturday April 28, 2012 throughout the Coastal Bend.

A total of 1,052 ponds of pills were collected at this year’s Prescription Drug Take Back Event surpassing last October’s collection of 892.6 pounds.  

The CCPD and D.E.A. would like to express our thanks to those who donated their locations as a drop off point as well as all the individuals who brought in their potentially dangerous prescription drugs.

Coastal Bend Collection Sites are listed below:     

  • KIII TV~423.28 lbs.
    5002 South Padre Island Drive, Corpus Christi
  • HEB~14.11 lbs.
    3500 Leopard, Corpus Christi
  • HEB~91.27 lbs.
    3033 S. Port Avenue, Corpus Christi
  • HEB~75.84 lbs.
    5313 Saratoga Boulevard, Corpus Christi
  • HEB(Flour Bluff)~74.07 lbs.
    1145 Waldron Road, Corpus Christi
  • HEB(Annaville)~93.47 lbs
    11100 Leopard Street, Corpus Christi
  • HEB~72.80 lbs.
    1600 Wildcat Boulevard, Portland
  • HEB~31.75 lbs.
    409 E. Kleberg, Kingsville
  • HEB(Aransas Pass)~12.79 lbs.
    101 E. Goodnight Avenue, Aransas Pass
  • HEB(Sinton)~34.39 lb.s
    106 S. San Patricio, Sinton
  • Cuero City Hall~85 lbs.
    201 E. Main Street, Cuero
  • DEA/Naval Air Station/CCAD~43.21 lbs.
Community Outreach, Delta District

Help Identify These Graffiti Vandals and Earn Extra Cash by Calling 888-TIPS

Occurred on 4/21/12, 3:40 am  Graffiti   5042 S. Padre Island Drive

The Corpus Christi Police Department is asking the public’s assistance in identifying the individuals involved in vandalizing a Salvation Army Thrift Store tractor-trailer parked behind the store.  In the early morning hours of  April 21, 2012, three individuals were captured on surveillance camera video vandalizing the tractor-trailer with graffiti. 

Anyone who has any information as to the identity of these individuals or this crime is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or log on to www.888TIPS.com. If the information provided leads to an arrest it could earn the caller a cash reward.

Community Outreach

In Need of Transportation or Shopping for an Early Mother’s Day Gift; Stop by our Monthly Auction this Saturday

The C.C.P.D.’s commitment to “Keep Corpus Christi Safe” has continued with its
“Zero Tolerance No Insurance Initiative”

On Saturday, May 5, 2012, a total of 53 cars, trucks, and motorcycles will be auctioned at the Corpus Christi Police Department new Vehicle Impound Lot located at 5485 Greenwood Drive during our monthly auction. The new site has four paved acres for an auction lot. 

Approximately 13 of these vehicles are “No Insurance” impounds. On Friday, May 4, 2012, 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.

Officers issued 5,508 citations and impounded 1,212 vehicles for Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility during 2011. During April 2012, Officers issued 319 citations for Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility and impounded 56 vehicles for the same charge.

Community Outreach, Delta District, Patrol Division, Traffic Safety Division

Shoreline Blvd. Closed From 5PM Today Until 2PM Saturday

The Buc Days activities will disrupt traffic patterns in downtown Corpus Christi this weekend.  Shoreline Boulevard from Buford to Coopers Alley Street will be closed to traffic from 5:00pm on April 27, 2012 until 2:00pm on Saturday April 28. Shoreline Boulevard from Coopers Alley Street to the American Bank Center will be closed to traffic from 10:00am until 2:00pm on Saturday April 28 for the Buc Days Kids Parade.

Motorists are asked to take alternate routes to avoid this area. The downtown area of Corpus Christi is expected to have congested pedestrian traffic. Extra Corpus Christi Police patrol will be in the downtown area for the safety of everyone. Please be patient and courteous.

Community Outreach, Narcotics/Vice Division

Turn in your Prescription Drugs, No Questions Asked

Drug Enforcement Administration and the Corpus Christi Police Department
Conduct Third Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

“Living Drug Free Starts at Home”

On April 28th,  from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  local law enforcement agencies  and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.  Bring your medications for disposal to one of the designated sites in Corpus Christi, Kingsville, Aransas Pass, Portland, Cuero and Sinton.  The service is free and anonymous. 

Last October, Americans turned in 377,080 pounds—188.5 tons—of prescription drugs at over 5,300 sites operated by the DEA and nearly 4,000 state and local law enforcement partners. (The Gulf Coast area collected almost 1000 pounds.) In its three previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners took in almost a million pounds—nearly 500 tons—of pills. 

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue.  Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.  Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.

Four days after the first event, Congress passed the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010, which amends the Controlled Substances Act to allow an “ultimate user” of controlled substance medications to dispose of them by delivering them to entities authorized by the Attorney General to accept them.  The Act also allows the Attorney General to authorize long-term care facilities to dispose of their residents’ controlled substances in certain instances.  DEA is drafting regulations to implement the Act, a process that can take as long as 24 months.  Until new regulations are in place, local law enforcement agencies and the DEA will continue to hold prescription drug take-back events every few months.

Coastal Bend Collection Sites are listed below:     

  • KIII TV~5002 South Padre Island Drive, Corpus Christi
  • HEB~3500 Leopard, Corpus Christi
  • HEB~3033 S. Port Avenue, Corpus Christi
  • HEB~5313 Saratoga Boulevard, Corpus Christi
  • HEB(Flour Bluff)~1145 Waldron Road, Corpus Christi
  • HEB(Annaville)~11100 Leopard Street, Corpus Christi
  • HEB~1600 Wildcat Boulevard, Portland
  • HEB~409 E. Kleberg, Kingsville
  • HEB(Aransas Pass)~101 E. Goodnight Avenue, Aransas Pass
  • HEB(Sinton)~106 S. San Patricio, Sinton
  • Cuero City Hall~201 E. Main Street, Cuero
Community Outreach, Delta District

If you received a text stating “CREDIT UNION…YOUR CARD IS NOW DEACTIVATED – PLEASE CALL 361-xxx-xxxx” Don’t Stop Reading

Information Provided by Corpus Christi Police Department’s Financial Crimes Unit

Over the last few days, customers have made their banks aware of a scam that is hitting the Coastal Bend area.

The customers are receiving a text on their phone that typically reads “CREDIT UNION…YOUR CARD IS NOW DEACTIVATED – PLEASE CALL 361-xxx-xxxx” Customers are then asked to put in their account number.

This is a scam and an attempt to obtain your account number along with your PIN. DO NOT respond to any messages that are similar to this.

If you receive a message like this, contact your bank/credit union in person or by a verified phone number and advise them. If you have responded to the text advise your bank immediately.

Community Outreach, Criminal Investigations Division

Copper Theft Crime Of The Week

  Burglary of a Habitation

Crime of the Week # 17-2012

Air Dates: April 25- May 2, 2012

1204200025 and 1204230046

I am Senior Officer Kirk Stowers with your Corpus Christi Crime Stoppers Crime of the Week.

This week we are at the 13,900 block of Whitecap at a house under construction. The owner told police that an unknown person broke the rear door to the house to gain entry. Once inside, the person stole the Air Conditioner coil made of copper tube. The estimated cost for this AC coil is $2,500.

This house was targeted by criminals days earlier when the exterior Air Conditioner unit valued at $3,500 was stolen.

Copper thefts have increased nationwide in recent years which results in increased costs for consumers.

If you know who is responsible for these thefts call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS, or log on at 888tips.com. We want your information, not your name. The information you provide could earn you $1000 in cash.

Community Outreach

April 25th Is Denim Day

Please join us on April 25th by wearing jeans to work in order to bring awareness to Sexual Assault. It’s time to talk about it!

Connect. Respect. Prevent Sexual Violence.

RAPE is a crime: talking about it isn’t

We celebrate Denim Day in honor of a woman who was forcibly raped by her driving instructor. The woman pressed charges, but the case was dismissed because the chief judge decided that, “…because the victim wore very, very tight jeans, she has to help him remove them and by removing the jeans it was no longer rape, but consensual sex.”

Show your support for survivors on Denim Day