State law prevents license revocation of Galveston Sheriff candidate

with November 5 election A law in Texas affects a case involving Galveston County’s elected sheriff, Jimmy Fullen. Texas Law Enforcement Commission recommended canceling Fullen’s peace officer license was issued last June.

However, a section of the Texas Professions Code states that the regulatory agency has the authority to revoke or suspend a peace officer’s license “except in relation to an elected officer under the Texas Constitution.” The bill also provides that TCOLE, which licenses and regulates all local and state peace officers, may revoke an elected official’s license under the Texas Constitution only if the person has been convicted of a felony or “a criminal offense directly involving the person’s duties as a law enforcement officer.” It is stated that it can. officer.”

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TCOLE recommended revoking Fullen’s license, citing deficiencies in the work history statement he submitted to two departments.

“If the defendant neglects or fails to disclose information regarding his work experience or provides false or unfounded information, receives disciplinary punishment at the workplace, is fired from his job or asked to resign, is accused of discrimination, is subjected to harassment, makes a written complaint at the workplace, receives a payment made by court order, failure to do or delay, being part of a civil lawsuit, and failure to disclose two arrests,” read the Petition to Cancel, which TCOLE filed in June.

TCOLE officials did not comment directly on Fullen’s case but acknowledged that state law would prevent revocation of his license.

TCOLE officials said Fullen may still face some form of disciplinary action. Fullen appealed TCOLE’s recommendation to the state Office of Administrative Hearings. The hearing was scheduled for after the first of the year, but the motion for continuation was granted without setting a future hearing date.

Fullen said he is confident his legal team will resolve the issue with TCOLE before he takes office on Jan. 1. On election night, Fullen said he would also work to address the concerns of critics who raised the issue during his campaign.

“I’m going to go out there and start meeting with them one-on-one in these communities, and it won’t take long for them to understand that I’m a man of my word and I’ll do what I say. I will make them. So we will build these bridges,” Fullen said on November 5.