In Moscow Police Captain James Fry”s office, a framed quote – a gift from Moscow Chief of Police David Duke – hangs on the wall.
“Some excel because they are destined to,” it reads. “Most excel because they are determined to.”
Diamond Koloski | Argonaut
Moscow Police Captain James Fry observes traffic outside the police station Friday.
For years, Fry said he has considered Duke his mentor within the police force. Now, with Duke slated to retire later this spring, Moscow Mayor Bill Lambert has selected Fry to fill the role of Moscow”s new Chief of Police. The mayor”s selection will be affirmed by the Moscow City Council April 18.
“I feel extremely honored and humbled by the fact that I get to take on this role. It”s even more of an honor to me because my mentor is the current chief,” Fry said. “I get to follow in his footsteps and that means a lot.”
Fry grew up in Council, Idaho, and pursued a criminal justice degree at the University of Idaho. He applied to be a reserve officer in 1993 and in 1995 he was hired as a patrol officer.
Since then, he has worked as a SWAT team member, firearms instructor, Taser instructor, bike patrol officer and homicide detective.
Latah County Prosecuting Attorney Bill Thompson first met James Fry 23 years ago, when he was a young reserve officer who was eager to get out and learn.
“I think the city made a wise decision to hire someone like James, who already knows the community and has ties with the university, the people, and the businesses,” Thompson said.
Fry agreed that his connections within the Moscow community will help him in his new role.
“I”ve been here for a long time,” Fry said. “I know what matters to our community.”
Emilie McLarnan, assistant director of Alternatives to Violence of the Palouse, said she has worked with Fry for eight years, mostly while he was a detective investigating sexual assault and domestic violence crimes. She said she has appreciated how well he treats victims and survivors and she is excited to see how he continues to help the Moscow community.
“Our system is good and there”s always room for improvements, and he looks out for those kinds of things,” McLarnan said. “He is a great advocate for victims, and I think he”s very personable and will be great. I”m very happy with him being selected as chief.”
Fry said in sexual assault and domestic violence crimes, it”s important for him to remember that how police handle these cases can make a huge impact on the victims and their families.
“We do that by how we react and how we talk to people,” Fry said. “I can”t change what happened, but if I can help them in anyway heal, and move on, a lot of times that is a success in itself.”
Fry said that”s just one of the reasons he knows he can take the quote that now hangs on his wall and hang it in any office he may have – he said he knows that especially in law enforcement, things may get hard, but with determination, it”s possible to continuously strive to do better and better. “
(The quote) reminds me that you have to keep excelling to be excellent,” Fry said. “You have to keep working at it every day.”
Diamond Koloski can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @diamond_uidaho