Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Howard Plouff was fatally shot outside a bar after he responded to a call for help from sheriff's deputies at approximately 2:00 AM.
Four deputies were working off-duty security at the country western bar when a fight broke out during a private party. The fighting moved outside the bar and several shots were fired, one of which struck Sergeant Plouff. He was transported to Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center where he succumbed to his wound approximately 21 hours later.
The killer, 22, was apprehended four days later and charged with first degree murder. On March 11, 2010, he was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 21 years in prison. He is to be released on February 17, 2024.
Sergeant Plouff was a 17-year veteran of the Winston-Salem Police Department.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-2B37796F- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sergeant Plouff gave the Winston-Salem Police Department 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the Winston-Salem community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Plouff.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Howard J. Plouff is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NC, 385 of 664 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58% of this state's fallen. That is 3.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Winston-Salem Police Dept., 10 of 19 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 52.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Howard J. Plouff's cause is highlighted.
How Howard J. Plouff Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 21 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Howard J. Plouff is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Howard J. Plouff was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
18 officers from Winston-Salem Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
