Galveston County Sheriff candidate is under investigation and faces revocation of police license

GALVESTON, Texas – Republican candidate for Galveston County Sheriff’s Office Jimmy Fullen is currently in the midst of an investigation involving the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (also known as TCOLE).

Fullen is accused of not telling the truth in previous police employment.

Fullen recently won the Republican primary in March. He is considered the favorite to win the election and is supported by many local politicians, including State Senator Mayes Middleton and Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick.

KPRC 2 spoke with Kenneth Williams, a retired Galveston County Sheriff’s deputy who filed a complaint with TCOLE after receiving public records requests regarding Fullen’s employment history.

“A “A lot of people are interested in this and a lot of those citizens are angry,” Williams said.

He said two of those employment history details involve the Galveston County Police Department’s Second Precinct and the Texas City Police Department.

According to Williams, Fullen was dishonest in two statements about his employment history to Galveston County Constable Precinct 2 and the Texas City Police Department.

“There was a personal history statement that he completed in October 2023 and then one that he completed in January 2024. And I found 19 omissions and/or lies in one of them and 20 in the other,” Williams said.

Williams’ complaint ultimately sparked TCOLE’s investigation. KPRC 2 obtained the document showing the petition from TCOLE’s executive director recommending the revocation of Fullen’s license. It shows that Fullen is accused of failing to list several disciplinary actions against him in his employment records. These include two prior arrests, discrimination allegations and a firing or request to resign.

If Fullen’s police license is revoked, Williams said it could mean the end of his career as a police officer.

““He will never be a police officer again. He should never be a police officer again. You can’t falsify government documents. If he falsified those government documents, is he going to falsify the report on you?” Williams said.

Fullen sent KPRC 2 a statement on the investigation, saying, “We have filed a response with TCOLE and intend to contest the allegations.”

Fullen’s peace officer license is still valid, meaning he can continue to work as a peace officer and potentially become sheriff until the investigation proves otherwise. Fullen is requesting a hearing before the state Office of Administrative Hearings.

A SOHA judge will then make a recommendation to TCOLE and the commission will vote on whether to revoke his license. He can even appeal that ruling to a district court. A date for that hearing has not yet been set.

KPRC 2 received a statement from Fullen’s opponent, Democrat Mark Salinas. He said Galveston County needs a representative in office who doesn’t have issues with his license that could put the county at risk or expose him to liability. He said no one is above the law and wishes Fullen the best.

Fullen and Salinas will face elections in November. The winner will replace current Sheriff Henry Trochesset, who is retiring.