In Galveston County, the election of the new sheriff, Jimmy Fullen, has come under scrutiny due to a Texas law that is poised to obstruct efforts to revoke his peace officer license amidst allegations of falsified documents. Fullen, who secured a sweeping 61.82 percent of the vote, has been recommended for license revocation by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE), as reported by
Click2Houston
. TCOLE’s Petition for Revocation from June elaborates that Fullen allegedly “omitted, failed to disclose, or provided false or untruthful information” relating to numerous aspects of his job history, including prior employment discipline, accusations of discrimination, failed court-ordered payments, lawsuits, and undisclosed arrests.
Texas Occupations Code protects elected officers, allowing their licenses to only be revoked following a felony conviction or criminal charges related to their duties, which now means despite the findings, Fullen’s license cannot be withdrawn unless such conditions are met. Fullen has appealed the TCOLE recommendation and a hearing was scheduled for the new year was delayed with no alternative date confirmed; Fullen confident his legal team will navigate through the accusations, also expressing intent to engage with detractors following his victory though no concrete steps have been detailed as expressed in an interview on election night, “I’ll go out there and I’ll start meeting with them one on one in these communities and it won’t take them long to see that I’m a man of my word and I’m going to do what I tell them I’m going to do,” as per
Click2Houston
report.
Concerns over Fullen’s eligibility and integrity as sheriff began when TCOLE’s investigation resulted in the recommendation to revoke his license due to falsifications on official documents, which according to
Houston Public Media
, he plans to contest—Fullen stated earlier this year, “I have filed an answer with TCOLE and intend to contest the allegations,” emphasizing that his license remains unaffected for now. Fullen’s election comes as part of a broader local shift towards Republican candidates in Galveston County, following significant campaign contributions with prominent local figures such as Houston billionaire Tilman Fertitta donating roughly $25,000 to Fullen’s campaign.
Fullen’s election is set against the backdrop of ongoing regional political issues, including a federal judge’s ruling the previous year that the county’s redistricting map violated the Voting Rights Act due to racial gerrymandering. The map was redrawn to comply with the ruling. However, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals later determined that in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, the Voting Rights Act does not extend protections to coalitions claiming discrimination, a decision that has affected efforts to address racially motivated gerrymandering. While Fullen’s term as sheriff will begin on January 1, legal challenges and the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement’s (TCOLE) decision in January remain unresolved, creating a complex situation involving both legislative and electoral considerations.
Note: Thank you for visiting our website! We strive to keep you informed with the latest updates based on expected timelines, although please note that we are not affiliated with any official bodies. Our team is committed to ensuring accuracy and transparency in our reporting, verifying all information before publication. We aim to bring you reliable news, and if you have any questions or concerns about our content, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!
Leave a Reply