The Petropulos Era is Over

The name Petropulos is long associated with Fullerton law enforcement circles.

John Petropulos was a Fullerton Police Officer between 1981 and 2010, rising to the position of Captain.  He also taught for many years at the Fullerton College Police Academy.  The chances are good that if someone you know attended the academy over the past decade or two, they know and have stories to tell about John Petropulos.

His son, Tim, was hired by the Fullerton Police Department in 2005 and was a Sergeant handling Internal Affairs.  Many believed Tim would follow in his dad’s footsteps, until he and Cpl. Brad Fernandes jumped ship this past week for the Irvine Police Department.

Tim’s departure is noteworthy because his transfer to Irvine PD came with a demotion from Sergeant to Police Officer.  Voluntary demotions are not unheard of, but certainly not the norm.

Adding to this strange turn of events, Irvine Police Chief Mike Hamel is currently married to Fullerton Police Lt. Kathryn Hamel, the sister of former Fullerton Police Captain George Crum.  Having a loved one in law enforcement is apparently necessary for upward and lateral mobility these days.

Lest anyone from the FPD come forward to bemoan that Fullerton doesn’t pay enough, you should know that Fullerton has paid less than other cities for a very long time.  This is nothing new.  So why are Fullerton Police officers quitting in droves for other departments?  Dan Hughes promised everyone for years this was now a reformed, and better-than-ever police department.  If true, why wouldn’t people want to stick around and be part of that?

Nails. Coffin. Dan Hughes’ legacy as police chief.  Meet your hammer.

12 Replies to “The Petropulos Era is Over”

  1. A few years back someone mentioned working a call with Station 18. If I understood right, John showed up as an OCSD deputy. That wouldn’t be a surprise. He always struck me as having $$$ in his eyes. Maybe Tim does too.

    1. Those Fullerton cops will hate it at Irvine. Many who have left Irvine for other departments have said its sterile, no fun, boring, non traditional leaderless environment. Who cares if the pay is better if the work environment is miserable.

    2. Kathryn Hamel and her career is over! She is on her way out. Bad behavior sets her in a spiral- bye bye Hamel

  2. How long before Lieutenant Crazy Hair also gets a job with Irvine PD?

    That Ph.D. of hers from the University of Phoenix commands respect! LOL

  3. Can we get a moment of silence for the Irvine residents who now have to suffer a couple of Fullerton’s washed out turds?

    1. Those Fullerton cops will hate it at Irvine. Many who have left Irvine for other departments have said its sterile, no fun, boring, non traditional leaderless environment. Who cares if they pay is better if the work environment is miserable.

  4. What is it with these goobers and the two ball point pens? Are they too stupid to check and see if one is working?

    Wouldn’t want to run out of ink writing up that DUI report (no, not if the city manager is involved).

  5. “… you should know that Fullerton has paid less than other cities for a very long time. ”

    Sez who?

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