Vanderburgh County Sheriff Switches to Republican Party

Vanderburgh County Sheriff Dave Wedding announced on Thursday his switch from Democrat to Republican.

Vanderburgh county's sheriff announcing -- he is switching political parties.

Sheriff dave wedding will now consider himself a republican.

The county's democratic party releasing a statement --- saying they are looking forward to new leadership.

44news reporter- valerie lyons-- takes a look at what the shift means for you.

Vanderburgh county sheriff dave wedding says he's been considering making the switch for a while now -- but that the current political climate was something he could no longer tolerate.

After serving 6 years as a democrat -- vanderburgh county sheriff dave wedding is changing political parties..

Wedding says he's always been a quote "conservative democrat" -- and that he originally ran on the blue ticket to follow a long history of democrat sheriffs.

His switch to the republican party echoes the same move made recently by posey county sheriff tom latham -- both citing current national issues as their reasons.

And wedding says the widespread unrest over police across the country was the final push to make the decision.

"as i watch the news every day i am shocked, i am shocked watching things in portland and seattle where night after night they're out rioting -- they're not protesting, they're rioting -- they're putting police officers' lives in danger every single night, and as a sheriff i cant imagine putting my deputies in that situation."

The vanderburgh county democratic party expressed their disappointment with wedding's departure -- but were not surprised given the current views on police reform.

Wedding says he's not ruling out running for another office -- down the road but for the time being he's focusing on his final two years as sheriff.

Valerie lyons -- 44news.