In a move that concludes a contentious legal saga, Galveston County Sheriff Jimmy Fullen has settled with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE), effectively ending an investigation into his conduct and retaining his position. TCOLE originally pushed for the revocation of Fullen's peace officer license upon discovering multiple omissions and inaccuracies in Fullen's application history. In a report by ABC13, the investigation was initiated by a retired sergeant's complaint and identified failures on Fullen's part to disclose previous arrests and civil suits, among other concerns.
However, the legal scuffle took a turn when TCOLE, recognizing Fullen's elected status, modified its recommendation from complete revocation to a 10-year suspension. Fullen contested this decision, but the lengthy battle ended with the commission voting unanimously for a six-month suspension, backdated to June through December of 2024. This resolution allows Fullen to continue serving as sheriff, as noted by his counsel, Tony Buzbee, who said, "This was the typical and quintessential example of what's called lawfare. That is using the system, whether it be an administrative system or legal system or other systems, to do things you could not do at the ballot box," in a statement obtained by ABC13.
The settlement received formal approval on Wednesday and marked the end of allegations that seemed influenced by political pressures. Fullen, who traveled to TCOLE's December meeting in Nacogdoches alongside his command staff and two constables, refrained from making comments during or after the proceedings. The original complaint against Fullen coincided with the launch of his campaign in 2023, sparking suspicions of political maneuvering, as records shared by Click2Houston indicated ties between TCOLE and Fullen's electoral opponent.
"On Wednesday, December 10th, 2025, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) formally approved a mediated settlement agreement between Sheriff Fullen and TCOLE pertaining to alleged administrative violations and the attempted revocation of Fullen’s peace officer license," Fullen sent in a written statement to Click2Houston. Allegations of a local State Representative communicating with TCOLE leadership, who was linked to Fullen's opponent, were among the concerns raised during the investigation, along with issues surrounding the management of confidential information.
The mediated agreement retroactively suspends Fullen’s license for a period predating his tenure as sheriff, effectively resolving the dispute and allowing him to continue his duties without further disruption. According to his legal team, the final terms ensure that the suspension has no impact on his role—a point underscored by the resolution of the case, which permits Fullen to move forward in his law enforcement leadership position without hindrance.
