Jesse Curry was the son of a Baptist preacher who had been part of the Dallas Police Department for a short while early in life. He joined the Dallas Police Department himself in 1936 and worked his way through the various sections to become Chief of Police in 1960. Along the way he had the opportunity to attend the FBI National Academy in 1951.

When President Kennedy came to Dallas, Curry and his men did not take part in the security arrangements. Police officers were scattered along the parade route out of respect for the office of the president, but had no assigned duty.

Curry was riding in the lead car of the motorcade and thought it was odd for there to be people standing on the triple overpass, which was a violation security protocol. When the shots rang out, he got on the radio and ordered some of his men to check out the area. It turned out to be railroad workers and two of his own officers.

Shortly after the assassination Lee Oswald was arrested in the Texas Theater and JD Tippit was murdered. Curry immediately charged Oswald with the killing. He assigned Captain JW Fritz to handle the interrogation. When asked why there was no transcript of the questioning, he explained there was not room for someone to record the conversation in the room.

Upon questioning by reporters, he commented he was not particularly concerned with Oswald's safety, believing that being police custody was sufficient. Obviously this was underestimating the danger his prisoner faced. He and his department received volumes of justified criticism for permitting Jack Ruby to have access to Oswald, however, given the relationship between Ruby and his officers through the Carousel Club it is understandable how Ruby's presence would not have been unusual.

In his later years, Jesse Curry admitted he only considered Lee Oswald as the shooter and killer of Tippit. However, as time progressed and more information came to light, he was not so sure as he had been in November of 1963.