A 2023 Texas law set to take effect on January 1 will protect Galveston County Sheriff-elect Jimmy Fullen and other elected officials from having their peace officer licenses revoked by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.
Jimmy Fullen, the Sheriff-elect of Galveston County, is safeguarded from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) revoking his peace officer license by a recently enacted Texas law. TCOLE is prohibited from revoking the licenses of individuals elected to office under the Texas Constitution, as stipulated in House Bill 4504, which will take effect on January 1, 2024. This provision guarantees that the peace officer status of Fullen or any other state-elected officer is preserved, irrespective of the standard supervision provided by TCOLE.
As part of the 2023 updates to the Texas Occupation Code, the bill was enacted, effectively distinguishing elected peace officers from non-elected law enforcement personnel. This legal protection ensures that sheriff-elects, such as Fullen, are safeguarded from actions that could otherwise lead to the revocation of their licenses once they assume office.
The new law has prompted inquiries regarding the accountability and oversight of elected law enforcement officials. Advocates contend that it protects the democratic process by preventing unelected entities from overturning the will of the electorate. Critics, however, caution that it could potentially restrict regulatory measures that are designed to maintain the standards of law enforcement.
