As your 2019 ISA president, I welcome all newly elected sheriffs and congratulate all returning sheriffs. I look forward to serving both with you and for you as we work to achieve our shared objectives together.

To the members of the ISA, we as your sheriffs continue to work collectively to serve and protect you, our citizens, preserve and defend the constitutional Office of Sheriff and advance our legislative agenda. It takes ALL of us, as ONE VOICE, to be heard at the statehouse

Currently, many of our sheriffs are dealing with overcrowded jails. A majority of our jails are also being used inappropriately as substitute mental health facilities, with inadequate staffing and inadequate funding. We are being asked by legislators and special interest groups to “reform” these inmates, without being given the proper resources or personnel to support such programs.

One of our fundamental responsibilities as the sheriff is to protect our communities by pursuing, apprehending and jailing criminals. In many cases, the entrance to our jail seems to be a revolving door; we see way too many of the same faces, far too frequently. If we are serious about preventing crime, we know that we must have the space available to lock up the serial repeat offenders and hold them for a meaningful period of time.

Our successes will come through collaboration internally, with our community leaders, our elected office holders, fellow city, state and federal law enforcement colleagues, our representatives and senators at the statehouse, and of course with you, the members of ISA.

To be successful in our mission, we cannot do this job alone.

I am excited and eager to serve as your ISA president in 2019. Together, as ONE VOICE, we can accomplish much.

Sheriff David L. Wedding

President Indiana Sheriffs’ Association