Derek Frye is the epitome of what they call "true blue". Starting out in Pine Valley as a police officer, and rising up the ranks from Detective to Lieutenant to Chief of Police, Derek's love affair with the law has been the one constant in his life, while the rest of his life is usually in disarray.
In 1991, someone was drugging Palmer Cortlandt. Was Opal the culprit? She was practically forcing the poisoned health drink down her husband's throat. And to make matters worse, a vial of drugs fell out of her coat! Was it Will Cortlandt, the nephew seeking an easy road to the top of the Cortlandt corporate ladder? It turned out that Palmer's right-hand man, Stan Ulitowski was the guilty party who was seeking revenge because Palmer stole his fiancé, Opal away from him. Stan eluded capture when, trapped in a plane by Officers Derek Frye and Mimi Reed, he jumped out the door. "Mr. U's" body was never recovered.
Working closely together, love blossomed between Derek and Mimi. That year, Derek was joined by his sister Livia and nephew Terrence in Pine Valley. Derek and Mimi eventually married.
In the line of duty, Mimi shot and killed young Tony Keefer when Tony robbed a local diner, McKay's. Mimi thought she acted in self defense, but it turned out Tony wasn't armed.
Mimi was forced to take a leave from the police force when she became pregnant! Mimi and Derek joyfully welcomed baby Danielle Stephanie Frye.
Tony Keefer's mother, Grace Keefer, was driven to the edge with grief, and kidnapped baby Danielle Frye, trying to raise the baby as her own. When it was discovered that Grace had kidnapped Danielle, Grace nearly jumped off a cliff with the child! Fortunately, Derek's nephew Terrence talked Grace down, and baby Danielle was reunited with her parents.
Derek and Mimi's marriage suffered when he was partnered with rookie cop Taylor Roxbury-Cannon, and they began working long hours to infiltrate a racist organization at Pine Valley University. When Derek had an affair with Taylor, Derek and Mimi's marriage fell apart.
When his co-workers noticed Derek was a lot more on-edge than usual in 1994, Derek admitted that Mimi left him and took Danielle with her away from Pine Valley. Derek and Mimi amicably agreed to share custody.
In 2004, Derek discovered his teenaged Danielle had returned to town and wasn't thrilled that she had taken up with Reggie Montgomery. As Danielle and Reggie began to get serious with each other, Derek grudgingly consented to their dating.
