A two-decade career of community policing came into focus Monday evening in Priest River, Idaho, as city leaders gathered to recognize Sergeant Chris Davis for his 20 years of dedication to the Priest River Police Department.
The honor was presented at the July 6 Priest River City Council meeting, where Police Chief Drew McLain, Council President Candy Turner, Mayor Jeff Connolly, and Councilor Billy Mullaley each took time to acknowledge Davis’s contributions to the city and its residents.
A Career Rooted in North Idaho Communities
Davis’s law enforcement career stretches across several North Idaho communities. Before joining the Priest River Police Department, he spent several years with the Spirit Lake Police Department and also served as a reserve officer in Wilder, Idaho. Over the past two decades in Priest River, Davis built a reputation as a consistent and trusted presence — not just on city streets, but within the local school community.
In his current role as the school resource officer at Priest River Lamanna High School, Davis has worked directly with students and families, navigating the complex intersection of public safety and youth development. Chief McLain acknowledged the unique demands of that assignment during the ceremony.
“Little did Chris know that when he signed up to be a school resource officer that it would be the toughest job he ever loved,” McLain said.
The school resource officer role has become an increasingly valued position in Idaho communities, placing trained law enforcement personnel inside schools to build relationships with students, address safety concerns, and serve as a visible deterrent to campus threats. For Davis, that relationship with Priest River Lamanna students appears to have run both deep and mutual.
Retirement Considered, Then Deferred
As the school year wound down, Davis reportedly weighed stepping away from the department. The pull of retirement was real — but so was the pull of the community he had served. Students and parents at Lamanna High reached out, asking him to remain for at least another year. Davis ultimately decided to stay on.
“I had lots of parents and lots of students that were begging me not to, to stay for one more year,” Davis said. “It’s been good. It’s been hard but it’s been good.”
His decision to continue reflects a dynamic that many small-town law enforcement agencies depend on: experienced officers who are embedded in the fabric of the communities they serve. Replacing a seasoned school resource officer — one with established trust among students, staff, and parents — is no small task for a department the size of Priest River’s.
Community and Council Show Appreciation
Council President Candy Turner offered her personal thanks to Davis during the meeting, recognizing both the length and the character of his service. Mayor Jeff Connolly and Councilor Billy Mullaley also made remarks, underscoring the council’s appreciation for the commitment Davis has shown to the city over two decades.
Moments like Monday’s recognition serve a purpose beyond ceremony. In smaller Idaho communities, law enforcement officers often wear many hats — patrol officer, community liaison, mentor, and first responder — and the work they do rarely draws headlines. A formal public acknowledgment gives residents and elected officials alike a chance to reflect on the human beings behind the badge.
Priest River sits along the Pend Oreille River in Bonner County, a community that values the kind of personal, consistent law enforcement presence that Davis has provided across two decades of service.
What Comes Next
With Davis committed to at least one more year with the Priest River Police Department and in his role at Lamanna High School, students returning to campus this fall will continue to have a familiar face on staff. Whether Davis pursues retirement after that additional year remains to be seen, but for now the department retains an officer with deep roots in the community — exactly the kind of institutional knowledge and local trust that is difficult to build and impossible to replace overnight.
For other public safety developments across North Idaho, including recent incidents on area roadways, see coverage of the two-vehicle collision near Elmira that injured 12 people and left one person requiring airlift transport.