SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A State Police trooper injured in the line of duty received three honors Wednesday during a ceremony at the West Virginia State Police Headquarters.
In March 2017, Sgt. David Fry responded to a domestic violence call in Lincoln County where a man high on meth was
holding his wife hostage with a gun. Fry acted to save the woman and was shot in the shoulder and wrist.
It took him eight months to recover from his injuries from which he had to undergo reconstructive surgery on his arm and intense physical therapy to be able to return to work.
Governor Jim Justice and Superintendent of State Police Jan Cahill were both present to honor Fry with a Purple Heart, Medal of Valor and 2017 State Trooper of the Year.
“This is a hero,” Justice said about Fry. “All these people are heroes. What they do for us every day is just this, and sometimes we forget it or we don’t appreciate it enough.”
Justice explained the situation that Fry was involved in that night in March 2017 where he was the only responder to the incident and did not have any backup. He said the bravery that one has to display to go into a situation like that is amazing.
“Let’s be real. How many of us, on our own, would go to a home where a guy is holding his wife hostage with a rifle and no back up anywhere and go try to help somebody?” Justice said.
Fry was joined by his wife, daughter and mother at the WVSP Headquarters to receive his honors and said that he was very thankful for everything.
“I feel fantastic. I’m very glad to be here,” he said. “I very much appreciate the governor’s remarks. I very much appreciate Col. Cahill not only in his official capacity but the way that the State Police, which is my family, has taken care of me through this.”
He explained that it was just by chance that he was the trouper to be on the scene that night.
“I’m in the position I’m in right because my number got pulled to take that call. There are two troupers who are out there right now who were in Hamlin with me at that time, but I’ve since been transferred,” he added. “It could’ve easily been them, and they would’ve done the same thing I did. I was given the opportunity to prove what we can do and that’s all it was.”
Above all, Fry said that he is a state trooper and acting the way he did was not a personal thing at all but just what he was supposed to do.
In the WVSP Headquarters there is a wall with photos of officers who have been killed on duty. Fry said his picture could’ve been added to the gallery.
“This is about as close as you can get to not being on that wall,” he said. “I’m very proud, very honored, and I’m just really glad to be here.”
Jeremiah Yeager, Alum Creek, was allegedly the man who shot Fry and is currently in the Western Regional Jail and was indicted on charges of domestic assault, domestic battery, attempted murder, obstruction, brandishing, strangulation and two counts of malicious wounding in January.
He is awaiting evaluation to see if he is fit to stand trial.
Story by Jordyn Johnson