Murder in Galena: The Shootings of Jim Potts and Michael Fry

07/11/2026

“I just wanted to let you know about this in case I disappear, ha!”-Jim Potts

What was Jim doing in Galena, Kansas a half an hour before sunrise, and 30 miles away from home, on that warm August morning in 2003?

To put it simply, Jim was investigating citizen complaints of abuse from officers in the Galena Police Department. We will get into more of that in a future post.

There had been some serious allegations made regarding police misconduct, and Jim expressed some personal concerns to Joplin, Missouri attorney Roger Johnson, as well as his wife Carolyn.

In an email to Johnson just a few weeks prior to his death, Jim told the attorney about his looking into the police department, adding, “I just wanted to let you know about this in case I disappear, ha!” Johnson has since stated that he did not believe that Jim was in any danger at the time.

Following his death, Jim’s widow Carolyn spoke of a conversation she had with her husband about a month before he was shot.

She stated that Jim told her, “If anything happens to me, I want you to look at the Galena Police Department.” She said that he also added, “Carolyn, listen to me. I’m serious. If you delve into it, if you ask too many questions, you’re next.”

Yet, Jim’s death was a “su*cide.” Accountability may never come. But the truth will start to emerge, sooner or later.

07/10/2026

Michael Fry was fishing underneath the Schermerhorn Park bridge the morning of Jim Potts alleged su***de, when he heard the gun shot. He was there, and he knew that it was no su***de, and being a good man, he didn't keep it to himself.

That integrity cost him his life on September 18, 2004, when officers from the Galena Kansas Police Department, on some bullsh!t pretext, burst into Michael's home, and gunned him down in cold blood. There is no other way to put it.

Two lives lost because of the corruption running rampant in Galena, Kansas in the early 2000s.

05/10/2026

This is important.

05/10/2026

Remembering Carolyn...

IN MEMORIAM

Carolyn Sue Potts was born in Crane Texas to Jacqueline Sue Lyons and Garry Lavril Lyons on August 11th, 1956. She passed away March 25th, 2022 at Duncan Regional Hospital following a short battle with cancer.

She married James Franklin Potts on May 18th, 1981. They had 1 son, Michael Erion Potts, born on Sept 30th, 1985 and passed Oct. 1, 1985. Jim had 2 sons, Brad Potts and Matt Potts that she became a stepmother to. Jim joined the military, allowing them to reside and visit different places of the country. He did a tour in Germany and they traveled to a few other countries. They bought a home at Grand Lake in Grove Oklahoma.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Jim Potts, her son, Michael Potts, her mother Jacqueline (Sue) Lyons, 2 sisters, Sherry Lynn Barnes and Paula Gene White.

Carolyn never gave up hope that the truth behind Jim's death would be known to all. May she rest in peace in Jim's arms.