Barry served with the Middletown Township (NJ) Police Department for 37 years prior to his retirement in 2008. Barry attained the rank of Detective First Class in the Major Crimes Unit; in addition, he was a forensic identification specialist and fire/arson investigator for the Department and provided technical, photographic and laboratory assistance in almost every significant investigation, including homicides, sudden deaths, burglaries, narcotic offenses, and fire investigations.

For 30 years, Barry has served as Adjunct Instructor and Curriculum Design SME for the National Fire Academy and ATF developing and teaching numerous courses on the Emmitsburg (MD) campus and around the nation including interview and interrogation, report writing, courtroom techniques, and fire/arson Investigation.

Barry is a Past President of both the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) and the New Jersey Chapter of the IAAI. He is a former Fire Chief of the Middletown Township (NJ) Volunteer Fire Department, one of the largest volunteer fire departments in the country, with 330 active members operating out of 11 stations, serving a population of over 85,000.