VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Vigo County Sheriff John Plasse dedicated his life to serving and protecting the community and the country.
The Vigo County Sheriff’s Office announced his passing at age 60 Wednesday morning, saying they lost a leader, colleague, and a friend.
Before being elected as Vigo County Sheriff, John Plasse served with the Terre Haute Police Department for over 30 years. He became Chief of Police in 2008, and 10 years later he announced his run for Vigo County Sheriff.
“It’s something I really wanted to do,” Plasse said.” “I’ve never ran for office before, it’s still in law enforcement. My whole career has been in law enforcement, so for me this is just the next step.”
He was elected Vigo County Sheriff in November of 2018, and during his career received many awards for his dedication to service. He was recognized as the Wabash Valley Recovery Community Public Official in 2021. During his time as sheriff, he oversaw the construction of the new Vigo County Jail.
In 2022, Plasse was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and despite his battle with the illness, he continued to be active in his role as sheriff and was re-elected to the position that fall.
“I do really care about this community and it’s really gratifying to know this community cares about me,” Plasse said.
Plasse also dedicated his life to serving the country. He served with the Indiana Army National Guard for 34 years before retiring in November 2017 as a sergeant major. His service included deployments to Afghanistan in 2006 and 2010. In 2015, he was deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba where he served as as Chief of Logistics.
“You know you’re away, you’ve got your group that you’re deployed with, but you’re away from your family, your friends for the most part,” Plasse said. “You’re kind of isolated but you’ve got another group you depend on while you’re there. You do your job and just make sure everything happens the way it’s supposed to happen.”
And back at home, Plasse was involved in numerous organizations including local nonprofits, as well as law enforcement and military organizations.
“I’ve been very fortunate to do both,” Plasse said. “Military and law enforcement. Whether it’s in Afghanistan helping people there or in Terre Haute helping people here. It’s gratifying to know that you can make a difference and to know that you can help make things better in your community.”
In a statement, the Vigo County Sheriff’s Office said in part:
“The Vigo County Sheriff’s Office team promises to honor our Sheriff’s memory by serving Vigo County with the same energy, integrity, and goodwill that John Plasse taught by his leadership and example. We will remember him and be grateful that we were privileged to serve in his company and shared a common commitment to public service.”
