Tulare County sheriff warns of fake GoFundMe pages honoring slain deputy
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Sheriff Mike Boudreaux warned the public about fake GoFundMe pages for Deputy Hoppert.
- GoFundMe said its Trust & Safety team is monitoring accounts and holding raised funds.
- The Deputy Sheriff’s Association created the only verified donation page for Hoppert’s family.
Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux is urging the public to beware of fake GoFundMe pages honoring fallen TCSO deputy killed in line of duty.
According to the Sheriff’s office, fake GoFundMe pages are claiming to be on behalf of deputy Randy Hoppert’s family.
“Please know, Deputy Hoppert’s family has not authorized any GoFundMe Pages and is not benefiting at all from those donations,” said the sheriff’s office in a statement.
Hoppert was killed Thursday, April 9, after a man ambushed deputies serving an eviction notice at a home in north Porterville. He was part of a backup response to a shots-fired call.
His killing has shaken the region who has been mourning the loss of the 35-year-old deputy, a six-year-veteran of the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office.
Hopper is the first California law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty in 2026
“When there’s an unspeakable tragedy, people have a deep urge to help and provide comfort to those affected. It’s not uncommon for someone to create a GoFundMe to help another individual after a news report,” said a GoFundMe spokesperson in an email. “In these instances, our Trust & Safety team closely monitors the platform for any related fundraisers to help those affected.”
It is unclear how many accounts were created or how much money has been raised on the platform.
“During these crisis moments, when a fundraiser is created to support another individual, funds are safely held by our payment processors and only transferred to the recipient of the fundraiser, making them inaccessible to a fundraiser organizer,” said GoFundMe spokesperson.
According to GoFundMe, in the event an intended beneficiary confirms to the platform that they would like to decline the funds, all donors are refunded.
For those who would like to donate to Hoppert’s family, the Deputy Sheriff’s Association has created a donation page where people can send money. It is the only verified donation page, said the sheriff’s office.
“Please don’t fall victim to the scammers taking advantage of this tragedy,” said the sheriff’s office.
Hoppert was the grandson of former Tulare County Undersheriff Doyle Hoppert. He is survived by his wife, their two sons, as well as his mother and sister.
