Galveston County’s new sheriff tackles mass immigration, mental health and ‘Jeep Weekend’

GALVESTON, Texas (KTRK) — After being sworn in, Galveston County’s new sheriff talked about how he plans to deal with mass immigration, the mental health department, and a controversial event that draws thousands to the Bolivar Peninsula.

43 DEPUTY LEAVES BEFORE GALVESTON’S NEW CHIEF IS SWORN IN.

January 1st is the day Jimmy Fullen has been waiting for. With his hand on the Bible, Fullen was sworn in as Galveston County’s newest sheriff.

Shortly after that, he got a message.

“It’s going to be a new era of law enforcement,” Fullen told the crowd.

A new chapter some chose not to be a part of.

Forty-three deputies retired before Fullen was sworn in, bringing with them more than 1,300 years of law enforcement experience.

A new sheriff must now fill the position. ABC13 tried to ask Fullen about this last month.

He was not going to answer. After he was sworn in, Eyewitness News asked how he planned to address the gaps.

“If they had that many years of experience, they were in retirement,” Fullen explained. “We are bringing in new employees. Some experienced ones from other organizations will fill those vacancies.”

After swearing in the new deputies on New Year’s Day, Fullen said they only have 20 vacancies.

FULLEN SAYS HE’S PLANNING TO DISTRIBUTE A MENTAL HEALTH KIT, AS EXPERTS ASK HIS LISTINGS.

It’s not just questions about deputies retiring, but the mental health sector.

A former employee told ABC13 that he was let go from the department.

Fullen said he is adding deputies to it.

“What I do is take seven deputies assigned to mental health and stay in the office all day. They’re going out on patrol for calls for service until those other calls come in, Fullen said.

Experts question the sheriff’s plans. University of Houston criminology professor Kimberly Dodson said if mental health officers wore uniforms for routine patrols, it could make mental health calls more difficult.

“Typically, when someone sees a law enforcement officer, that can make the situation worse,” Dodson explained.

We’re not the only ones who want to question Fullen, but so are the state’s legislative leaders.

In three months, there will be a Texas Law Enforcement Commission hearing on his license, to see if he disclosed his prior arrest.

Fullen believes now that he has sworn, nothing can happen.

“I disclosed my previous arrest. It was in the history report I sent,” Fullen said.

Fullen said a hearing is scheduled for April 1.

ONE OF FULLEN’S ACTIVITIES IS ENDING THE ‘JEEP WEEKEND’ EVENT

Every year, “Jeep Weekend” brings places like this to Bolivar Peninsula. Thousands of people head to the peninsula’s 27-kilometer beach.

It started more than ten years ago, mainly with jeep groups, but it has become something else. Many local businesses are closed for the weekend, and hundreds are arrested. That’s why the event may not take place the weekend before Memorial Day this year.

“Basically, we’re going to close Jeep week,” Fullen said.

He said next week, there is a meeting in Bolivar to talk about how to stop the event that the sheriff’s office said attracted 100,000 last year.

Big numbers aren’t just restricted to beachgoers. The sheriff’s office has to handle many of the attendees.

Last year, the sheriff’s office said 300 people were arrested. The year before that was 234. In 2022, 175 were arrested. Four years ago, it was 220, and in 2020, 180 were arrested.

Some of those arrests are related to violent crime. Last year, someone was shot dead.

“It’s very aggressive,” Fullen explained. “You’ve got officers getting injured. You’ve got citizens getting hurt. You’ve got people being sexually assaulted. It’s not good for the community, period.”

Fullen said the meeting will be held on January 8.

GALVESTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPUTY WILL GET A NEW LOOK

The sheriff’s office not only got a new leader, but look. There are no more green uniform deputies used to wear.

On Wednesday, Fullen wore a blue uniform during the swearing-in ceremony. He said the deputies will wear the uniform he made more than 30 years ago.

“We’re changing the whole environment of the sheriff’s office,” Fullen said.

Fullen told ABC13 that he created the uniform when he was Galveston ISD’s police chief in 1992.

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