Corpus Christi Police Chief Mike Markle and City Manager Margie Rose inspect the department’s new SkyWatch tower during an unveiling ceremony. Courtesy photo
Corpus Christi police now have eyes in the sky without having to fly. The city’s police department unveiled its new SkyWatch Tower on Nov. 13. The white tower, which is decorated with police decals and a Valero logo, can rise up to 30 feet above ground, making it a handy tool for observation at large events.
“This is something that will improve our capacity and abilities exponentially,” Police Chief Mike Markle said at the unveiling.
The first use for SkyWatch will be in the city’s shopping districts during the holiday season. It comes equipped with cameras on two sides of the control room, allowing officers to zoom in on different areas. The control room includes screens for the camera feeds and the controls to move the tower up and down.
The tower was funded by the Corpus Christi Police Foundation and Valero, which more than doubled its initial donation of $50,000 promised in April to $102,000. A new SkyWatch tower costs about that much, which accounts for the large Valero logo on its front door.
The Corpus Christi Police Foundation is a nonprofit organization that works to strengthen the bond between the police department and the community. It also raises money to help purchase police equipment the department would not otherwise be able to afford.
The next major fundraiser for the organization, the annual State of the Police Department Breakfast, will be held Jan. 17, 2018. Markle will make a State of the Police Department presentation at the Solomon Ortiz Center during the breakfast.
