Robstown police are going all in on a major overhaul

Leaders say the upgrades will improve public safety and rebuild trust in the department.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Robstown Police Department is in the middle of a sweeping overhaul that includes a $2 million renovation project, a new fleet of patrol vehicles and an expanded focus on gang enforcement.

Police Chief Mike Tamez said the changes are designed to modernize the department and improve public safety while rebuilding community confidence.

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One of the most visible changes is the department’s new patrol vehicle graphics package. The agency is also expanding its fleet.

“We are buying an additional eight F150s and one Ford Explorer for our community services Officer and our CID, which is all of our criminal investigations will be going to a Ford Explorer,” Tamez said.

The upgrades extend beyond the department’s vehicles.

Inside police headquarters, crews are renovating and reconfiguring office space to better support modern law enforcement operations. The building originally opened as a bank in the 1920s and still contains the original vault.

Training Coordinator Justin Martinez said part of the renovation includes creating dedicated storage areas for equipment and supplies.

“So this is going to be our equipment storage room. This is where we’re going to have all of our extra uniforms, ammo supply will have all of our weapons placed in here,” Martinez said.

Tamez said the renovation project reflects a larger effort to improve professionalism throughout the department.

“The agency has not always had the best of reputations and I think we all know that. My goal incoming year was to make this a professional police department because the citizens deserve it,” Tamez said.

The department is also continuing its efforts to combat gang-related crime. According to Tamez, investigators have identified 24 documented gang members operating in Robstown. Many of those cases have connections to criminal investigations in Corpus Christi.

“A lot of the gang activity is linked to Corpus Christi Gang activity. A lot of it. I can’t talk a lot of details because a lot of these are big open investigations. The beauty of it is you have two agencies and officers from two agencies working together to solve crime,” Tamez said.

The department currently has four officers assigned to gang enforcement duties in addition to their regular patrol responsibilities.

Police leaders say the combination of upgraded facilities, new equipment and targeted crime-fighting efforts is helping position the department for the future while improving service to the community.