A little more than a week after the election, Putnam County officially has a new sheriff.

In a shocking upset, political neophyte and retired Putnam County investigator Robert Langley defeated his old boss, controversial longtime Putnam Sheriff Don Smith, by just 342 votes.

The Democrat says watching how Smith conducted himself in office for almost 16 years was one of the reasons he was motivated to run. He says it was painful to see Smith go to war with former District Attorney Adam Levy, and eventually have county taxpayers foot the bill on a lawsuit he lost.

“It’s unacceptable when you're the chief law enforcement agent of the county, you don't cross the line. No one should cross the line. It’s unacceptable,” he says.

Langley says changing the culture inside the department and developing a drug treatment program at the jail will be among his top priorities.

He will be sworn into office on New Year’s Day in Cold Spring.

News 12 reached out to outgoing Sheriff Don Smith but did not get a response.