The Corpus Christi Police Department’s Sex Offender Registration Coordinator D. Berry and Detective J.T. Smith will be conducting spot checks on the registered sex offenders within our city on Halloween night from 5pm to 9pm.  The Police Department’s Directed Patrol Officers will also be accompanying officers of the Nueces County Adult Probation Department as they conduct compliance checks on Monday  through Wednesday.

The Corpus Christi Police Department (CCPD) has a website where you can view the registered sex offenders in Corpus Christi on an interactive Google map. Sex offender’s locations are one of the most requested information calls into the Police Department during Halloween. The CCPD has made it extremely easy for citizens to do research on their own by using CRIMEREPORTS.com.

www.crimereports.com is a web-based crime mapping system. Once on the site, enter your address along with Corpus Christi, Texas and hit enter. You will be shown the sex offenders near your home as indicated by a red and white yield sign type of symbol.  The map will show the locations, photo, address and other information of each sex offender.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has these Halloween Safety Tips that the CCPD would like to pass on to our citizens:

ALL DRESSED UP:

• Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Make sure that shoes fit well and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with flame.
• Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and Trick-or-Treat bags for greater visibility.
• Because masks can limit or block eyesight, consider non-toxic makeup and decorative hats as safer alternatives. Hats should fit properly to prevent them from sliding over eyes.
• When shopping for costumes, wigs and accessories look for and purchase those with a label clearly indicating they are flame resistant.
• If a sword, cane, or stick is a part of your child’s costume, make sure it is not sharp or too long. A child may be easily hurt by these accessories if he stumbles or trips.
• Obtain flashlights with fresh batteries for all children and their escorts.
• Do not use decorative contact lenses without an eye examination and a prescription from an eye care professional. While the packaging on decorative lenses will often make claims such as “one size fits all,” or “no need to see an eye specialist,” obtaining decorative contact lenses without a prescription is both dangerous and illegal. This can cause pain, inflammation, and serious eye disorders and infections, which may lead to permanent vision loss.
• Teach children how to call 9-1-1 (or their local emergency number) if they have an emergency or become lost.

CARVING A NICHE:

• Small children should never carve pumpkins. Children can draw a face with markers. Then parents can do the cutting.
• Consider using a flashlight or glow stick instead of a candle to light your pumpkin. If you do use a candle, a votive candle is safest.
• Candlelit pumpkins should be placed on a sturdy table, away from curtains and other flammable objects, and should never be left unattended.

HOME SAFE HOME:

• To keep homes safe for visiting trick-or-treaters, parents should remove from the porch and front yard anything a child could trip over such as garden hoses, toys, bikes and lawn decorations.
• Parents should check outdoor lights and replace burned-out bulbs.
• Wet leaves should be swept from sidewalks and steps.
• Restrain pets so they do not inadvertently jump on or bite a trick-or-treater.

ON THE TRICK-OR-TREAT TRAIL:

• A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds.
• If your older children are going alone, plan and review the route that is acceptable to you. Agree on a specific time when they should return home.
• Only go to homes with a porch light on and never enter a home or car for a treat.
• Because pedestrian injuries are the most common injuries to children on Halloween, remind Trick-or Treaters:
• Stay in a group and communicate where they will be going.
• Carry a cell phone for quick communication.
• Remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk.
• If no sidewalk is available, walk at the far edge of the roadway facing traffic.
• Never cut across yards or use alleys.
• Only cross the street as a group in established crosswalks (as recognized by local custom). Never cross between parked cars or out driveways.
• Don’t assume the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing Trick-or-Treaters. Just because one car stops, doesn’t mean others will!
• Law enforcement authorities should be notified immediately of any suspicious or unlawful activity.

HEALTHY HALLOWEEN:

• A good meal prior to parties and trick-or-treating will discourage youngsters from filling up on Halloween treats.
• Consider purchasing non-food treats for those who visit your home, such as coloring books or pens and pencils.
• Wait until children are home to sort and check treats. Though tampering is rare, a responsible adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items.
• Try to ration treats for the days following Halloween.

The Citizens in Support of the Corpus Christi Police Department hosted a lunch with Corpus Christi Police Chief Floyd Simpson on October 30 at the Texas Roadhouse.

The Citizens in Support of the Corpus Christi Police Department is a non-profit organization that raises funds for the police department to provide training and equipment that would not otherwise be budgeted. The organization was formed in 2008 with the stated mission to create a safer Corpus Christi by strengthening the bond between the Corpus Christi Police Department and the citizens it serves.

The Texas Roadhouse, located at 2029 South Padre Island Drive, served steak, potato, green beans, and a drink. Chief Simpson spoke at the lunch event to share gratitude for the organization to provide the training and equipment which directly is used to reduce crime, reduce the fear of crime, and to enhance public safety. Chief Simpson said “Our agency has been able to obtain additional training, host crime prevention programs and activities and benefit from new technologies and equipment. The ultimate benefactor from the efforts of Citizens in Support of CCPD is our community who enjoys a better equipped and trained police service.”

Several door prizes were awarded which included the opportunity for a person to be “Chief for a day,” and for a person to observe a bomb squad demonstration at the Corpus Christi bomb range. The Corpus Christi Police Dive team truck, boat, and the bomb squad truck were placed in the parking lot of the restaurant for display.

The Corpus Christi Police Department thanks all those who participated in this lunch which supports the Corpus Christi Police Department.

The Corpus Christi Police Department announces a contest that ends November 12, 2012 for High School students ages 15-18 years old in which the winners will receive a new iPad and have their entry displayed on a billboard in Corpus Christi.

The contest is to design a new anti-drunk driving advertising campaign. Contest winners will be in two categories; for the best slogan and for the best 2 dimensional artwork. The contest entries must be submitted to the High School the student attends or to the Police Department no later than November 12, 2012.

The contest entries will be judged by a group designated by Police Chief Floyd Simpson. Judges will not know the name of the contestant nor will they know which school the student attends when the contest entries are judged. The two first place winners will receive iPads. The second place winners will receive iPod touches, and the third place winners will receive iPod nanos. The contest winners will have their entry displayed on billboards in Corpus Christi through the month of December.

The contest is open to all students of a High School in Corpus Christi or accredited home school in Corpus Christi. Those interested in the contest should visit www.cctexas.com/police/contest.html for information and to download an entry form.

This is an opportunity for new drivers to use their creativity to make the streets a safer place to drive.

The Citizens in Support of the Corpus Christi Police Department Foundation will host its 2^nd Annual Lunch with the Chief on Tuesday, October 30, 2012 from 11:30am to 1:30pm at the Texas Roadhouse. The lunch is open to the public. Tickets are $50 per person and sold at the door of the Texas Roadhouse Restaurant located at 2029 South Padre Island Drive.

The menu includes steak, mashed potatoes, green beans, all the rolls and cinnamon butter you can eat, and a soft drink or iced tea. All of the money raised in this event goes directly to the Police Foundation.