Indiana Sheriff Switches To GOP: “I’m tired of people defying God, our church, our police, our government and everything we stand for.”

From Courrier Press:

Vanderburgh County Sheriff Dave Wedding officially declared himself a Republican on Thursday and accused his former party of endorsing flag burning, failing to acknowledge God and not supporting police.

Elected twice as a Democratic candidate, Wedding spoke to a large gathering of Republican officials and activists on the front lawn of American Patriot Group, a company led by major GOP donor Steve Chancellor.

Wedding is constitutionally limited to two terms as sheriff. His final term ends in 2022. He made no mention of future political plans in his speech. In an interview after his speech, he said he's keeping options open but has no specific intention at this time.

Wedding, after being praised by Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch as a dedicated lawman who "exemplifies Republican principles and values," began his speech by noticing the massive U.S. flag flapping in the breeze above him.

"Democrats want to burn that thing every day," Wedding said. " ... I can't tolerate that. Burning our flag? The symbol of our country, the greatest country in the world?"

Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, right, addresses the crowd before introducing Vanderburgh County Sheriff Dave Wedding, left, to announce his official switch to the Republican Party outside of White Stallion Energy in Evansville, Ind., Thursday afternoon, Sept. 3, 2020. She said the sheriff “exemplifies Republican principles and values.”
Wedding then recognized his parish pastor in the crowd.

"The left wing, you can't say God," Wedding continued. "They can't say God in the Pledge of Allegiance. What the hell is wrong with that? It's ridiculous. I sit and watch this and say, how could I even be a part of idiots like that?"

Wedding went on: "I'm tired of seeing fires set in our streets. I'm tired of people defying God, our church, our police, our government and everything we stand for. You hard working people that have worked from the time you're young until now to be successful individuals, and they want to get on you for being successful.

"I don't believe in that. I believe most of my Republican friends are hard working individuals that believe in our country, and I believe in our country and in Evansville, Indiana."

Wedding praised Mayor Lloyd Winnecke, standing behind him, as well as Chancellor, who Wedding said supported his campaigns for sheriff despite being a Democratic candidate.

Wedding mentioned the civil unrest in major U.S. cities, and he said defunding police "always seems to be a theme of the left-wing liberals."

From US News:

The sheriff of southern Indiana’s largest county has switched to the Republican Party, accusing Democrats of endorsing flag burning, failing to acknowledge God and not supporting police.

Vanderburgh County Sheriff Dave Wedding made his announcement this past week outside the Evansville business of major Republican donor Steve Chancellor with Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch in attendance.

Wedding, twice elected sheriff as a Democrat, noted a large U.S. flag nearby and said Democrats “want to burn that thing every day.”

“I’m tired of seeing fires set in our streets,” Wedding said. “I’m tired of people defying God, our church, our police, our government and everything we stand for.

The Vanderburgh County Democratic Party called Wedding’s political switch distasteful “political opportunism” and pointed out his previous complaints about insufficient funding from the Republican-controlled county council and state Legislature.

“Democrats love their country and that’s why we are fighting so hard for the preservation of democracy,” county Chairwoman Edie Hardcastle said. “We are fighting for our flag and the rule of law as long as it is applied to all Americans, and the freedom of religion so we can all worship as we like in the United States.”