COUNTYWIDE — Galveston County Sheriff Jimmy Fullen is warning residents not to send money to an organization using his name in a recent fundraising letter.

The letter, mailed under the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas letterhead, solicits $25 or $40 “associate memberships” and features Fullen’s printed name and signature. It claims the contributions will support law-enforcement training and public-safety initiatives statewide.

On Thursday evening, Fullen addressed the issue publicly on Facebook, saying he did not authorize his name or signature to be used.

“If you or anyone you know receives a letter like this via U.S. mail, please do not contribute to this organization,” Fullen said. “I did not authorize them to utilize my name or signature. Furthermore, I have repeatedly told this organization not to use my name for soliciting contributions for their organization.”

The Sheriffs’ Association of Texas, a nonprofit based in Austin, conducts annual membership drives to raise funds for training and outreach. Similar letters have drawn attention elsewhere in the state in recent years.

In 2021, sheriffs in Armstrong and Potter counties told local news outlets that residents had contacted them about the mailings, which bore their signatures. Those sheriffs clarified that the letters were sent by the association—not directly by their offices—and urged caution with any unsolicited requests for money.

The association has not yet issued a statement in response to Sheriff Fullen’s comments.

Fullen said that any official notices from the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office would be released only through verified channels, and he urged residents to confirm the legitimacy of any charitable appeals before contributing.