Evansville, Indiana – Chief Deputy Noah Robinson, a 22-year law enforcement veteran of the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office, will be the new Sheriff of Vanderburgh County starting January 1, 2022. elected Sheriff of Vanderburgh County.
Sheriff-elect Robinson’s campaign started in earnest back in January of last year, when he held an unorthodox, drive-in style campaign launch event during which he announced his candidacy for Sheriff of Vanderburgh County. Outside of the Vanderburgh County 4-H Center Auditorium, Robinson was introduced by City Councilman Ben Trockman to an impressive gathering of onlookers watching and listening from their vehicles. Trockman praised Robinson’s commitment to public service and his dedication to helping others.
Robinson took the stage and thanked Councilman Trockman for his support, as well as commended his campaign treasurer, Knight Township Trustee Kathryn Martin. Also sharing the stage with Robinson were Councilwoman Kaitlin Moore, City Clerk Laura Windhorst, City Councilwoman Missy Mosby, and Darmstadt Clerk-Treasurer Mallory Lowe.
Robinson touted his 22 years in law enforcement as having allowed him the opportunity to learn what it takes to successfully run a Sheriff’s Office.
At his announcement event, Robinson lamented the polarized nature of social media, stating that, “it seems that every issue we confront has no middle ground.” Robinson described himself as a pragmatist, eager to work with anyone interested in solving problems.
Robinson criticized the “Defund the Police” movement, calling it “misguided” and “divisive.” He called such talk a “false choice” and stressed that we can improve police response to people in crisis through a variety of measures that do not involve cutting the budgets of law enforcement agencies.
Robinson pledged that he will aggressively pursue drug dealers who hook people on opioids, heroin, and methamphetamine while also showing compassion to the addict and providing intensive treatment to support their recovery. He stated, “We can hold people accountable for criminal behavior and provide justice to victims while also reducing recidivism through job training and life skills development.”
Sheriff-elect Robinson made it clear that he supports and defends the 2nd amendment. Robinson stated he wants to, “ensure the ability of legal gun owners to defend their families, while also promoting responsible gun ownership and encouraging gun owners to keep their firearms away from children and secure from access by criminals.” Robinson stressed that he supports the protection of our children in schools with highly trained school resource deputies who know how to form connections with kids and establish positive mentorship with students.
Robinson pledged to seek out the criminal elements within Vanderburgh County, while also listening to and respecting the concerns of the community. He further resolved to hire qualified candidates as deputy sheriffs, while also ensuring the formation of a staff that represents the diversity of the community.
Robinson ran a grassroots-style campaign throughout 2021 and into the May 2022 Primary. Overcoming a 2-to-1 fundraising disadvantage against his rival, Sheriff’s Office Major Jason Ashworth. Â Robinson won the Democratic Primary with an amazing 59 percent of the vote.
He then focused his attention on the November General Election and his Republican challenger, retired Evansville Police Department Detective Jeff Hales. While Hales sought to paint Robinson as a liberal whose policies would harm public safety, Robinson struck a more moderate tone that emphasized collaboration.
The voters of Vanderburgh County apparently agreed with Robinson’s message of moderate collaboration, as he was the only Democrat in a contested county-wide race to win in the November general election. Mr. Robinson amazing walked away with 71 percent of the non-straight ticket vote.
Sheriff-elect Noah Robinson is a Newburgh, IN native and Castle High School graduate who moved to Vanderburgh County with his family nearly twenty years ago. Robinson attended the University of Southern Indiana, where he received an Associate’s Degree in Social Science and a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology with an emphasis in Criminal Justice Studies. In 1998, Robinson was admitted to the Golden Key National Honor Society, an organization that extends membership invitations to students in the upper 15% of their class. In 1999, he was admitted to the Alpha Kappa Delta International Sociology Honor Society.
Following university, Robinson joined the Owensboro Police Department in 1999 and graduated from the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training Center in Richmond, KY. Robinson served the City of Owensboro until his appointment as a deputy with the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office in March of 2001.
Robinson became a field training deputy in 2003, where he spent eight years assigned to Motor Patrol. In February of 2004, Robinson received an award from the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. for his actions on January 24th, 2004. Robinson entered a frozen lake to check for occupants in a partially submerged vehicle. In March of 2007, Robinson received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Vanderburgh Humane Society for assisting animals in danger during a house fire. In 2009, Robinson was promoted to the rank of sergeant and spent the next five years assigned to the Professional Standards Unit, where he developed policies and procedures for the agency as well as conducted internal investigations.
Robinson was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in June of 2014, assigned to headquarters, and placed in charge of information technology, public information, and grants. In October of 2018, Robinson was promoted to the rank of major and served as the executive commander of the Administration Division.
In December 2019, Sheriff Dave Wedding promoted Robinson to the rank of colonel and named him his new Chief Deputy Sheriff and second in command of the agency.
Sheriff-elect Robinson is a board member of the Highland Hills Challenger League Baseball Program and an active supporter of Youth Resources, the Salvation Army, the Evansville Rescue Mission, and many other local organizations too numerous to mention.
Sheriff-elect Noah Robinson met his wife Janie during high school. The two have been married for over 20 years, and together have three children, Kayla, Katie, and Kyle, as well as one grandchild, Adeline.
