Brad Frye has the best of both worlds

 

Last updated 7/21/2015 at Noon



Editors note; this is part of an ongoing series into the lives of local police officers.

The Bridge City Police Department has expanded their mode of transportation to better suit the needs of the community. Drug forfeiture/seizure funds have allowed them to purchase a golf cart, bicycles and a fully equipped motorcycle.

Assistant Chief Brad Frye drives the BMW motorcycle through the town of about 7,899 people and 5.40 square miles. Internationally, BMW is the largest seller of motorcycles for police use. More than 80,000 BMW motorcycles are currently in official use in over 150 countries on five continents. In the United States, more than 225 law enforcement agencies have the motorcycles in their fleets of patrol vehicles. The motorcycle is equipped with cameras, radar and much more.

The motorcycle is not just for show but has a purpose. It allows Frye to have a quicker response time to wrecks which is not always possible with a police car. About 30,000 vehicles travel through Bridge City daily. Texas Avenue can be very difficult to maneuver with the heavy traffic and especially at peak times. Frye also uses the motorcycle to do traffic enforcement to make "our town safer."

Frye has been driving the motorcycle as a police officer for about one year, but not before he received training. He completed an intense two week training with the Northwest University Safety Standards which was in conjunction with Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Education (TCLEOSE).

Frye always knew he wanted to serve the community by being a police officer.

"I always had the drive to go help, " he said. "I focused my whole life on doing that."

The Orangefield High School graduate had two family members who worked in law enforcement and would follow in their footsteps.

"I always knew I wanted to be a cop," Frye said. "I was teased in high school."

Frye started as a dispatcher in Bridge City in 1989. He attended Lamar University police academy and his first job was with the Vidor Police Department. He stayed there briefly before landing a job with the Bridge City Police Department. He remained there for about three years.

But, he had bigger fish to fry and was accepted into the Texas Department of Public Safety Academy. At the time the grueling boot camp style training lasted six months. He also would sign a paper saying he would go anywhere in the state. Although, he knew he really wanted to come back home to Southeast Texas.

During his career he worked at the border. He also worked in Wharton County and would conduct traffic stops on vehicles on U.S. Highway 59 where he would see large quantities of drugs and human trafficking. Frye also worked in Pierce County where he supervised 16 troopers to cover two very large counties. From 2001 to 2004 he worked as a canine trooper. He and his dog would cover a large area which was from Houston to Lufkin on mostly drug interdiction.

In 2004 he was promoted to Sergeant and was assigned to security at the State Capitol. It was his job to oversee troopers working there.

Frye wanted to come back home to be closer to his family and did what he could to achieve his goal. He was getting closer to home when he worked in Wallisville.

"The only way to get home was to have an opening there," he said.

In 2005, Hurricane Rita hit Southeast Texas pretty hard. DPS assigned Frye to assist with hurricane recovery. A short time later an opening in the Orange office became available and he finally met his goal. He remained there until 2010. Overall, his DPS career spanned 15 years.

It was in 2010 he joined Police Chief Paul Davis at the Bridge City Police Department as assistant police chief where he remains today.

During his career as a trooper he married the love of his life. His wife of 22 years, Sandy, works as a school nurse in Orangefield. The couple has two children.

As a family man, Frye sought out a way to give back to his alma mater by running for the Orangefield school board of directors. He won the seat and joined them in 2012.

"I love serving" he said. "I want to help build the best school district in the area."

Frye's desire to help people has come full circle over the years with his law enforcement career and on the school board.

"In law enforcement I have seen kids that don't get the help they need, " he said.

Now, he has the best of both worlds and helps children through law enforcement and in the board room.

Photo - Assistant Chief Brad Frye of the Bridge City Police Department, has been riding a motorcycle as as a police officer for about one year. The motorcycle is not just for show but has a purpose. It allows Frye to have a quicker response time to wrecks which is not always possible with a police car. Frye also uses the motorcycle to do traffic enforcement to make "our town safer."

 

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