The body of Deputy Randy Hoppert was escorted by members of the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office and law enforcement partners from surrounding agencies, from the Tulare County Coroner’s Office in Tulare to the Salser and Dillard Funeral Chapel in Visalia on Monday, April 13.
Hoppert, a detective with the Tulare County sheriffs office, was killed in the line of duty on April 9 while assisting fellow deputies who came under gunfire while serving an eviction notice in Porterville.
Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
Meanwhile, the community is coming together to help the Hoppert family.
The Visalia Rawhide, partnering with the Tulare County Deputy Sheriff’s Association and Rankin Field Weapons Range, will dedicate the team’s Thursday, April 16 game to the memory of the fallen officer. A program is planned for members of the Hoppert family and representatives of the TCSO to address the community before the game.
The team announced that 100% of ticket proceeds for the game will go to benefit the Hoppert family.
“And our ownership group, OnDeck Partners, is going to match all of the revenue that comes in,” said Rawhide Community Relations Manager Griffin Epstein. “So, it’ll end up being double.”
The community responded quickly to the team’s announcement.
“We sold 800 tickets for Thursday in the first 48 hours after the announcement,” Epstein said. “It’s just been an incredible response from the community to support the family.
“As we know, Tulare County is a special place, and in a time of need, we’re certainly seeing the community coming together to support the family,” he added.
Tickets are still available and may be purchased on the Visalia Rawhide website.
“Our deepest condolences go out to the Hoppert family in this unimaginable time,” posted Strings Italian Cafe on its Facebook page. “To help support them in a time of grief we are donating 50% of our sales on Monday and Tuesday nights for the rest of April. Any dine-in or take-out orders will contribute.”
“Our family is deeply touched at this gesture, and we thank you so much for your generosity to Randy’s wife and children,” responded Carol Hoppert Hays to the post.
On April 11, the TCSO sent out a release to make the public aware of fake GoFundMe pages claiming to benefit Hoppert’s family.
“Deputy Hoppert’s family has not authorized any GoFundMe Pages and is not benefiting at all from those donations,” stated the release. “Those who would like to donate to Deputy Hoppert’s family, the Deputy Sheriff’s Association has created a donation page where you can send money.”
GoFundMe Communications Manager Alexandra White, responded to the sheriff’s office’s concerns.
“Our Trust & Safety team is continuing to monitor the platform for activity related to this tragedy,” she wrote in an email. “We are working with organizers to gather additional information and help ensure funds safely reach the intended beneficiary. All funds raised are being safely held by our payment processors and will only be released to the beneficiary. If the family chooses not to accept donations, all donors will be refunded in full.”
The Peace Officers Research Association of California also set up a fund with the goal of raising $250,000.
“We humbly ask for your support to help provide financial stability and care for his family during this unimaginable time,” the website states. “Any contribution, no matter the size, will help honor Deputy Hoppert’s sacrifice and ensure his family is supported.”
The Visalia Police Department posted this option on its Facebook page for those unable to attend the Rawhide game.
This story was updated to add a new photo gallery and new photos.
This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Tulare County rallies for family of slain Deputy Randy Hopper
Reporting by Steve Pastis, Visalia Times-Delta / Visalia Times-Delta
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
