Council Approves Construction Contract for Police Training Academy

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX – At today’s regularly scheduled City Council meeting, Mayor Paulette Guajardo and the City Council approved a $21 million construction contract to Fulton Coastcon General Contractors, of Corpus Christi, for the construction of the Police Training Academy located in Council District 5. Funding for the project is available from General Obligation Bonds, Certificates of Obligation, and the FY 2023 General Fund.

The Corpus Christi Police Department (CCPD) began training cadets and in-service officers in the 1950s. To date, 80 cadet classes have graduated from the training program.

The current training facility, located on Corona Drive, was purchased by the City in 1981 and can no longer accommodate the growing needs of the CCPD.

“The building of a new Police Academy Training Center is a game changer, ensuring the safety of our city,” Mayor Paulette Guajardo said. “This will also enable us to significantly enhance our local recruiting and training efforts for years to come.”

“The construction of this new Police Training facility will be the first in our city’s history,” City Manager Peter Zanoni said. “By having a modern Police Training facility, our Officers will have the training environment they need to prepare for the future of policing.”

The Police Training Academy will be located on approximately ten acres of land on Yorktown Boulevard at Del Mar College’s new South Campus. The location provides cost savings to the city taxpayer and many partnership benefits. Del Mar College paid for preconstruction feasibility studies, traffic impact analysis, environmental studies, and supporting infrastructure.

The Police Training Academy can be utilized not only for the training of cadets but also as a training resource hub for other Coastal Bend police agencies. Its location on the Del Mar College campus is exemplary for promoting and encouraging cadets to pursue continuing education.

The 34,000-square-foot, two-story building, will include the following:

• One auditorium
• Two large classrooms
• Administrative offices
• Driving simulator
• Crime scene training room
• Range simulator
• Cadet breakroom
• Armory
• Weight-exercise room
• Defensive tactics training room

The exterior will include a quarter-mile outdoor running track, cadet parking, and a parking lot with security patrol.

“The new Police Academy is an exciting and bold step into the future of Corpus Christi Public Safety! We look forward to many years of professional training in this new facility, Police Chief Mike Markle said.”

“I am truly thankful for the commitment and the Corpus Christi Police Department by the City Manager, Mayor, and the City Council,” Scott Leeton, Police Officers Association President said. “The investment into a new training building will strengthen the Police Department’s training and educational levels even higher as CCPD continues to train our highly professional officers.”

The facility can be utilized as a Regional Police Training Academy and a backup Emergency Operations Center if necessary.

The Corpus Christi Police Department would like to thank the Mayor, City Council, and City Manager for their dedicated efforts to make this possible. This new facility will not only serve as a professional training environment for the CCPD and local partners but also as a beacon of pride for existing officers and an inspiration to future officers.

Construction begins in January 2023, with completion expected in the summer of 2024.

Media representatives can contact Sr. Public Information Officer Melanie Lowry at 361-826-3837 or by email at melaniel@cctexas.com.