Biography of the Police Chief

Terre Haute Police Department

General Information

Chief John Plasse received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminology from Indiana State University in 1990 and has been a sworn member of the Terre Haute Police Department for 27 years.  During this time, he has been assigned to the uniform division, criminal investigation division, juvenile division and Vigo County Drug Task Force.  Chief Plasse was promoted to Sergeant in 1998, Lieutenant in 2000 and appointed as Chief January 1, 2008.  He has been  commander of the Vigo County Drug Task Force, Street Crimes Unit, Special Response Team and Police Honor Guard.  He is the lead firearms instructor for the department and trains the Special Response Team.  Chief Plasse is Past President and current Vice-President of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 85.

Chief Plasse is a Sergeant Major with the 38th Infantry Division in the Indiana Army National Guard where he has served for 29 years.  He was deployed to Afghanistan from February 2006 to February 2007 and August 2009 to June 2010 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.  He has been a member of the All-Guard International Combat Shooting Team since 2002.  

Chief Plasse and his wife Julie have three children; Ryan, Bryttany and Dylaney.