Rise through the ranks

Moscow’s chief of police, James Dale Fry Jr., 49, said his tenure with the Moscow Police Department (MPD) has been long and decorated, and he is continuously exploring new and innovative ways to protect and serve the community.

Originally from the small town of Council, Idaho, Fry came to the University of Idaho for the first time in 1989 to pursue an education. Shortly after receiving his degree in law enforcement, Fry began his storied career with the MPD.

“I was always interested in law enforcement,” Fry said. “When I started taking classes my interests grew. I then applied for the reserves academy for the Moscow Police Department.”

Boasting a long resume while employed with MPD, Fry has served as a patrol officer, corporal, bicycle officer, firearms instructor, Taser instructor, breathe techniques instructor, SWAT team member, sergeant, detective sergeant and lieutenant.

Fry said his desire to become chief began to grow after being promoted to lieutenant, which inspired him to further his degree in law enforcement.

James Fry | Courtesy

Fry received his master’s degree from UI in 2013 during his time as a lieutenant. Shortly after receiving his degree, MPD changed the title of “lieutenant” to “captain.” Once a captain, Fry was then assigned to head MPD’s campus division from December 2015 until ultimately becoming Chief in April 2016.

“Once I made lieutenant, I started getting a desire to possibly be a chief somewhere, and that is why I got my masters,” Fry said. “The previous chief, David Duke, had encouraged me to continue working toward that.”
Fry said he applied and was selected as the city’s chief of police after Duke’s departure from MPD.

Tyson Berrett, a captain for MPD, said Fry has been a friend and mentor over his 22 years of policing experience.

“It’s been great, he’s a good mentor,” Berrett said. “Growing up through the department, he was a corporal, lieutenant, captain and now chief. He’s been a great mentor to younger officers. Teaching them the ropes, how to supervise and how to be a leader.”

Berrett said Fry’s active, participatory leadership methods have gone a long way in preparing new officers for day-to-day duties.

“He leads from the front,” Berrett said. “He’s not one of those guys who would sit back and tell you to go do things. When you’re out on patrol he’d be out doing it with you, taking reports as a supervisor.”

While Berrett acknowledges Fry as a personal friend, he said Fry is also a good boss to work under.

“He’s very autonomous,” Berrett said. “He doesn’t tell us what to do so much. He has ideas that come in, either from him, the public or other officers and he lets us discuss though in order to run our division. He’s not a micromanager — he lets us do our jobs.”

Berrett praised Fry for his creative and open ways in conducting law enforcement across the city.

“He’s done a great job,” Berrett said. “He’s a visionary for the police department. He has a direction (for the department) that he wants us to keep going in. He wants us to continually build on our accomplishments and learn from our mistakes.”

Karen Potter, who has been Fry’s assistant since 2012, said working with Fry has been both beneficial and challenging. She said the challenge comes in the form of grasping new perceptions, points of view and attitudes toward various methods of law enforcement.

“It’s been extremely challenging in a very positive way, Potter said. “He is very creative, and has taught me a lot about love for the community and community policing. He has a very unique way of looking at things, and looking at people ─ he turns negatives into positives.”

Potter echoed many of the sentiments held by Capt. Berrett – saying Fry is an open, listening, respectful and interacting authority figure.

“He’s very easy to work under,” Potter said. “He’s a huge communicator. As far as decision making, he is not a micromanager at all. You’ve got an idea, you bring it in and then he lets you go. I can come in anytime and ask questions, or for guidance, and he’s all about it. He will let you grow as far as you want to grow.”

Potter also acknowledged Fry’s artistic and creative side away from his responsibilities as chief. She said Fry has many different sides that make him hard to describe authentically.

“Multifaceted would be a good word for him,” Potter said. “He does the hunting and fishing, but he also has this very artistic side. I’ve seen him build, refurbish furniture and draw ─ he’s an amazing artist.”

Chief Fry said although the number of meetings, paperwork and public participation can prove to be demanding, his outgoing personality helps him manage his responsibilities.

“Every job is different, there are different things you don’t see coming,” Fry said. “There are a lot more meetings than I ever thought I’d go to. I am very active in community events and partnerships, but that goes with my personality.”

Fry said he prefers to spend his free-time outdoors with his four children and wife of 27 years when he’s not busy serving the public.

“I love to hunt, fish, boating and camping,” Fry said. “Spending time with my kids, and my wife. I like riding four-wheelers, pretty much anything outdoors is my passion. If I have time, I like to draw and learn new things.”

Fry said he is set to attend a 10-week executive training at the FBI’s national academy in January, but plans to continue leading MPD in a progressive fashion.

“When I get back, I just want to continue to help make our department one of the most professional agencies in the nation,” Fry said. “I want us to continue to think outside the box when it comes to law enforcement.”

Fry said MPD will continue to grow and evolve with the aid of the Moscow community.

“I want people to know we believe in our philosophy, Fry said. “We are the community and the community are the police.”

Andrew Ward can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter@WardOfTheWords