‘His bravery will never be forgotten.’ California mourns fallen Tulare deputy
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- Flags at county buildings ordered at half-staff to honor Deputy Randy Hoppert.
- Hoppert, 35, shot while aiding deputies during an eviction; died at hospital.
- Local and regional agencies issued condolences and held a procession and escort.
The killing of a Tulare County Sherriff deputy, the first California law enforcement killed in the line of duty in 2026, has shaken a region mourning the loss of 35-year-old Randy Hoppert.
“We offer our heartfelt sympathies to the family of our fallen Deputy and to the entire Tulare County Sheriff’s Office,” said Tulare County supervisor Any Shuklian. “This profound loss underscores the inherent risks our first responders brave daily to ensure the safety of our community.”
As chair of the board of supervisors, Shuklian ordered flags to be at half-staff at all county buildings in honor of Hoppert, a six-year-veteran of the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office.
“Deputy Hoppert gave his life in service to his community. Jennifer and I join his family, friends, and colleagues in mourning his profound loss,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom in a statement. “His selflessness, bravery, and commitment to protecting others stand as a lasting example of honor and duty. Deputy Hoppert’s legacy will endure, and his sacrifice will always be remembered.”
Sheriff Mike Boudreaux said Hoppert was shot and killed while responding to a shots-fired called after deputies served an eviction notice at a home in Porterville.
Hoppert was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He is survived by his wife and their two sons, as well as his mother and sister.
“I am heartbroken about the sudden, tragic passing of Deputy Hoppert in the line of duty, and I stand with the Central Valley in honoring his service to the people of Tulare Country and the State of California,” state Sen. Melissa Hurtado, D-Bakersfield, said in a statement. “I send my deepest condolences to Deputy Hoppert’s family, friends and colleagues mourning his tragic and untimely death. His bravery will never be forgotten.”
“The Central Valley is heartbroken to learn of the tragic loss of a deputy from the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office. This senseless act of violence has left a family shattered and a community grieving,” said Assemblymember Alexandra Macedo, R-Tulare.
The loss was felt across law enforcement agencies in the Valley.
“Our hearts are broken over the loss of our brother. Law enforcement is a calling filled with danger and uncertainty, and today we mourn a true hero. We hold the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office, and Deputy Hoppert’s family and friends, in our thoughts and prayers during this unimaginable time,” a Visalia Police Department spokesperson said in a statement.
Boudreaux said the last time an officer in Tulare County was killed in the line of duty was in December 2007 when Detective Kent Haws was fatally shot while investigating a suspicious subject.
Hoppert’s body was escorted in a procession from Porterville to the Tulare County Coroner’s office in Tulare Thursday afternoon, where family members, including his wife, and many other emergencies service member waited for him.
Boudreaux met with the Hoppert’s family members prior to them seeing the casket, which was draped in the American flag.
“ A Tulare County Sheriff’s deputy was taken from us in a senseless act of violence while serving and protecting his community,” Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer said in a statement.
“This loss goes far beyond one department,” Dyer said. “The result has left a pregnant wife without her husband, and young children to grow up without their father. The reality of this loss is truly heartbreaking.”
“We stand with our family at the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office. We mourn with the family, friends and colleagues of the Deputy Sheriff who was killed in the line of duty today in Porterville,” said San Benito County Sheriff’s Office in a statement. “Rest in Peace hero.”
This story was originally published April 10, 2026 at 4:30 PM with the headline "‘His bravery will never be forgotten.’ California mourns fallen Tulare deputy."
