Law Enforcement Talk: True Crime and Trauma Stories

Episode Title: Police, They Said It Could Not Be Done: Undercover With the Crips
Host: John "Jay" Wiley
Guest: Tegan Broadwater (Retired Fort Worth, TX Police Officer, Undercover Unit, Author, Podcaster)
Date: January 14, 2026

Overview & Theme

This episode takes listeners inside the harrowing, unconventional world of deep undercover police work, as host Jay Wiley interviews retired officer Tegan Broadwater. Broadwater shares how he embedded himself with the Crips in Fort Worth, Texas—a feat many said "could not be done" as a white officer—and the profound personal, emotional, and community impacts of his two-year mission. Beyond typical true crime, the episode explores trauma, moral conflict, and the need for broader solutions for communities affected by violence and incarceration.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Unconventional Journey Into Policing

• From Musician to Cop:
  • Broadwater shares his background as a professional drummer and music teacher who transitioned into police work after starting a family. (04:22)

    “I'm kind of a nerd by heart. A caring soul. I had to actually learn military bearing.”
    — Tegan Broadwater [04:22]

  • His lack of traditional law enforcement or military background was, in his view, beneficial, giving him "no bad habits" and a unique perspective. (05:20)

2. The Undercover Assignment 'That Could Not Be Done'

• Intentional, Not Accidental, Undercover Work:
  • Instead of ‘falling into’ undercover assignments, Broadwater purposefully pursued extensive undercover experience, transferring into high-crime areas to build credibility and “make a true impact on a neighborhood.” (14:32)
  • He leveraged his multicultural music experience and outsider persona:

    “I would be a great undercover for those reasons. And I think that hunch was actually correct.”
    — Tegan Broadwater [14:32]

• Strategy for Infiltrating the Crips:
  • Posed as a big-time dealer from South Texas to integrate into gang life, starting with small street deals and working upwards. Used patience, informants, and played the long game, ultimately gaining trust and climbing the gang hierarchy. (14:32-18:28)

3. Challenges, Skepticism, and Succeeding Against Odds

• Dealing With Skepticism

  • Both his sergeant and informants laughed at the idea of him successfully infiltrating the Crips due to his background and appearance. (27:48)

    “Both bursted out laughing... it just sounds preposterous.”
    — Tegan Broadwater [28:01]

• Navigating Race and Undercover Policing:

  • Broadwater addressed the obvious issue of being a white cop in a Black gang but stressed that in the criminal underworld, “the color that matters is green…. It wasn't about race.” (24:32)
  • He didn’t try to “blend in” but rather stood out and used that as an advantage, focusing on money and relationships. (25:21)

• Patience and Psychological Approach:

  • Instead of chasing quick deals, he built real, patient relationships and often told dealers “no” to increase his credibility. (26:16)

4. Emotional and Personal Impact

• Developing Real Bonds With Targets:

  • Spending two years embedded in the gang, Broadwater created genuine personal connections with many members, noting “I grew to really adore several of them,” which made the final round-up emotionally wrenching. (29:57, 32:20)

    “If you take the bad guy out of the personality and, and remove the sociopath, then you are left with a dude that I could totally hang out with.”
    — Tegan Broadwater [28:07]

  • He testified on behalf of certain defendants’ character at trial because he believed in their rehabilitative potential. (30:24)

    “I thought they held a lot of social redeeming value and the ability to rehabilitate... I would testify on behalf of their character.”
    — Tegan Broadwater [30:24]

• Coping With Betrayal and Aftermath:

  • Many former friends felt deeply betrayed; others refused to believe he was a cop. He does not blame them. (33:21)

5. Outcomes, Traumas, and Systemic Issues

• Case Results:

  • The case led to the takedown of 51 Crips, including solving 9 cold case murders; 41 prosecuted federally, 10 at the state level. (34:58)
  • The enormity and recognition of the case brought unexpected attention and emotional exhaustion.

• The Collateral Damage: Children and Community:

  • Broadwater realized the unintended side effect: 104 children in the neighborhood lost fathers to incarceration as a result of the operation. The cycles of violence and trauma perpetuate without intervention. (36:29)

    “We had 51 people now in prison and 104 children were now left without a father in a poor neighborhood. And I thought, well, I've only done half the job here, right?”
    — Tegan Broadwater [36:29]

• Purpose of His Book and Mission Now:

  • Wrote Life in the Fishbowl and started a podcast; all profits are donated to nonprofits helping children of incarcerated parents.

    “The book's not a Batman story... I share my affection and emotional toll that it took in order to arrest these people that I really grown fond of. So it's just kind of a real story that hopefully has a true purpose behind it now.”
    — Tegan Broadwater [40:04]

• Policing, Mental Health, and Social Change:

  • The conversation closes on the need for mental health resources for police, reform, and the importance of offering hope, education, and alternatives for at-risk youth.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Undercover Success:

  "One of the key factors to my success was telling people no... I'd say, ‘We don't move that kind of stuff, so I'm not interested.’”
  — Tegan Broadwater [26:16]

• On Relating to Gang Members:

  “If you take the bad guy out of the personality and, and remove the sociopath, then you you are left with a dude that I could totally hang out with. We have so much in common.”
  — Tegan Broadwater [28:07]

• On Betrayal and Empathy:

  "I couldn't blame them for feeling like you've betrayed me, you're not. I understand it totally."
  — Tegan Broadwater [33:21]

• On Unintended Consequences:

  “...104 children were now left without a father in a poor neighborhood. And I thought, well, I've only done half the job here, right?”
  — Tegan Broadwater [36:29]

• On Purpose and Healing:

  “The book's not a Batman story... I share my affection and emotional toll that it took in order to arrest these people that I really grown fond of.”
  — Tegan Broadwater [40:04]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:30] — Introduction of guest and unusual path to law enforcement
• [14:32] — Decision to work undercover and entering high-crime areas
• [18:28] — Crafting the cover and walking into the Crips operation
• [21:25] — Transition to FBI involvement and going deeper undercover
• [24:32] — Discussion on race, relationships in undercover work
• [26:16] — The importance of patience and denying deals
• [29:57] — Forming true bonds with targets, and the ethical complexity
• [34:58] — Results: 51 arrested, 9 cold cases solved, and the round-up
• [36:29] — Personal crisis: children left behind, birth of “the rest of the job”
• [40:04] — Systemic issues and motivation to write Life in the Fishbowl
• [42:00] — Changing policing, mental health, and current advocacy
• [43:28] — Closing reflections: purpose, legacy, and affecting change

Conclusion

In this powerful episode, Tegan Broadwater exposes both the utility and the emotional wounds of deep undercover work. Listeners will come away with a richer understanding of the complexities behind the badge—where success is measured not just in arrests, but in addressing cycles of violence and trauma that ripple through communities long after the high-profile cases close. The conversation is imbued with empathy, honesty, and a drive for real change—bringing a deeply human perspective to a world most will only glimpse from the outside.

Books and Contact:

• Life in the Fishbowl by Tegan Broadwater [Amazon]
• Tegan Broadwater Podcast & info: teganbroadwater.com

Host: John J. Wiley | letradio.com

For those seeking heartfelt stories from behind the badge, this transparent account of true crime, trauma, and hope is essential listening.