For the first time in its 30-year existence, the Honor Guard of the Corpus Christi Police Department will attend a national memorial service for fallen officers in Washington, D.C. The department has not been able to afford the costs in this past. This year, the group is not only going but getting new uniforms as well, thanks to money raised by the Corpus Christi Police Foundation. 
Creating a safer Corpus Christi by strengthening the bond between the Corpus Christi Police Department and the residents it serves is the mission of the foundation. The group is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) formed by business leaders to support the local police department by paying for training, equipment and technology outside of the city budget.
Multiple fundraising events are held throughout the year, including the upcoming State of the Corpus Christi Police Department Breakfast. Originally set for Jan. 17, the event had to be postponed due to inclement weather. Whenever the new date is set, Police Chief Mike Markle will deliver the State of the Police Department address.
“It’s a popular event,” Garcia said. “In fact, we’re sold out.” 
Markle serves as a non-voting member of the foundation’s board along with Assistant Chief Michael Alanis. The rest of the board consists of 15 community leaders who have applied and been accepted by an executive committee.
“Those who have a passion for the police force and want to initiate positive changes and are willing to help raise funds for CCPD can fill out an application to join our organization,” Garcia said. 
Preferred qualifications include experience in nonprofit fundraising. Each member works on various subcommittees to help raise money. For example, the 100 Club committee organizes an annual fundraiser that provides vehicle decals to each person who contributes $100.
The Corpus Christi Police Foundation has used its money to purchase K9 vests, a SkyWatch Tower and even a K-9 dog. The foundation helped raise $125,000 to purchase the SkyWatch Tower in this year. 
Many towns have SkyWatch Towers to give the police a bird’s-eye view at large events such as concerts and parades. The city of Pharr has six towers. Corpus Christi has borrowed a Tower from Pharr in the past for surveillance at Buc Days parades. 
“It’s been vital for our city, especially during our holiday shopping initiative,” Garcia said. “You’ll see it parked at the mall, and it’s been beneficial because it serves as a ‘force multiplier’ that does the job of two officers.”
In early 2017, the foundation also helped raise funds for a K-9 dog. Harry partners with Senior Officer Josephine Ressler, the first female K-9 officer in Corpus Christi.
“There are not a lot of funds available sometimes to do the jobs we need to do,” Ressler told Corpus Christi Business News. “The fact that the CC Police Foundation was able to raise funds to purchase Harry is absolutely amazing. It’s an honor to be the first female K-9 officer, but what I love most about this job is Harry and being with him 24/7.”  
Other projects funded by the Corpus Christi Police Foundation include: 
• travel costs for fallen officers ceremonies around the country;
• K-9 body armor and K-9 police badges; 
• FlexBadges, which are lighter and made with Velcro for less wear and tear on shirts;
• and a health and wellness program for police officers.  
The Corpus Christi Police Foundation also works to build a bridge between the police department and the community it serves, Markle said.
“One of our objectives is to be reachable and approachable by the community, and CC Police Foundation is a great conduit,” he said. “It brings together city leaders who help fundraise for capital projects we have. It brings in more community in a collective effort to buy the things we can’t afford to buy in our regular process.”
He lauded the organization for its understanding of department needs as well as the work it does interacting with the community
“It’s a win-win situation for everybody and creates a great environment,” he continued. “In the past, the police force would say, ‘leave the policing to us,’ but it doesn’t work that way. Successful police departments are integrated with the community. With the foundation, that integration happens quicker and the results are better.”
A major part of building that community happens at the breakfast, where police officers sit down with the residents they serve for a breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage and — for the first time ever — pancakes.
For more information, visit supportccpd.org.