A former Dallas police sergeant, Thomas Michael Fry, faces serious legal challenges after being indicted on charges related to the possession and sale of stolen firearms. The indictment, announced this week, accuses Fry of pawning 9mm Sig Sauer pistols that were improperly removed from administrative lockers at the Dallas Police Department’s southeast patrol division. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has made it clear that they will not tolerate law enforcement officers who violate their oaths by engaging in illegal activities.
The allegations against Fry come amid growing concerns about the fate of law enforcement weapons no longer needed by police departments. A policy resolution by the International Association of Chiefs of Police in 1998 recommended the mandatory destruction of such firearms. However, an alarming number of these weapons have found their way back into criminal activities. According to a report by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), more than 25,000 weapons used in crimes between 2019 and 2023 had previously been in police possession.
Fry's case is not isolated. Bradley Wendt, the former police chief in Adair, Iowa, was similarly found guilty of using his position to acquire weapons for personal profit. In his defense, Wendt remarked:
"If I'm guilty of this, every cop in the nation's going to jail" – Bradley Wendt
The ATF has reported that over 52,000 former law enforcement firearms have been linked to crimes since 2006. This data highlights the severity of the issue and underscores the need for stricter regulations on the disposal of police weapons. The ATF has urged police departments to reconsider practices involving the sale of used weapons, given that more than 14% of these firearms were associated with homicide or other violent crimes.
Fry has pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him. If convicted, he could face up to 30 years in federal prison. Chad Meacham from the U.S. Attorney’s Office emphasized the gravity of the situation by stating:
"Police officers have a sacred duty to uphold the rule of law" – Chad Meacham
"Instead, this sergeant betrayed his department – and his community – by allegedly pawning stolen firearms" – Chad Meacham
The investigation also sheds light on a concerning trend reported by The Trace, CBS News, and Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting. It found that some law enforcement officers have been illegally selling their weapons for personal gain. Between 2016 and 2023, more than 72,000 firearms were lost or disposed of without a recorded sale or disposal by gun dealers, according to the ATF.
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