BRAZIL– Vigo County’s John Plasse has been named “Sheriff of the Year” by leaders of the Indiana Sheriffs’ Youth Ranch, a 62-acre training retreat for future law enforcement officers, at-risk kids, young witnesses, and victims of crime.
Plasse serves as the group’s volunteer board president and heads ISYR’s fundraising, construction, and programming.
“Under Vigo County Sheriff John Plasse’s leadership this past year, ISYR saw tremendous growth and student engagement,” said Scott Minier, executive director.
Minier said Plasse’s first year as board president will be remembered for new facilities and new partnerships:
- Construction of the United Auto Workers 933 Youth Cabin and the Dr. Everett Clark Youth Cabin. Each bunkhouse will accommodate 10 students and two adult chaperones during overnights, weekend retreats, and weeklong leadership academies.
- Hosting Indiana’s first-ever joint Sheriff & Police Cadet Academy for high school students wanting to pursue public safety careers in Clay, Parke, Putnam, and Vigo counties.
- ISYR partnerships with higher education were expanded by hosting college students from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, DePauw, Eastern Illinois, Indiana, Indiana State, and Vincennes universities. Dozens of ROTC cadets bivouacked at ISYR, where they learned first aid, radio communications, land navigation, and other leadership skills.
“Sheriff Plasse’s successful lifetime of experience in college, the military, and law enforcement, coupled with his proximity to our West Central Indiana Academy, made him an ideal leader,” Minier said. “John, his family, and staff serve as good examples of the volunteer time and effort ISYR needs from public safety, business, and union leaders. The more people who help, the safer and more caring Hoosier hometowns will become.”
