Chad Jensen’s life changed forever one night at the Los Angeles County fair.

It was supposed to be a normal overtime shift with the police department. In the summer of 2015, the Los Angeles County Fair was in full swing with thousands of patrons in attendance, requiring a heavy police presence to keep the peace. When Chad and his partner were called to an incident at the busiest part of the fair, he never expected it would lead to a yearslong legal battle, a fraudulent investigation and malicious prosecution by the FBI, isolation from his colleagues, and more. When Chad was accused of using excessive force during an arrest, he thought the system would stand by his side since he knew he was well within his rights as an officer. What he encountered instead was an investigation headed by corrupt agents willing to do anything to put him behind bars and a police chief who refused to support his own corporal.

But with the support of his family and friends, including his partner on the force, Prince, Chad withstood the attacks coming from every direction, resolving to never give up the job he’d dreamt of since he was a little boy. He knew he had to fight for the truth, even when his badge was under fire.

Part memoir and part exposé, Badge Under Fire raises urgent questions about accountability within law enforcement and federal agencies, offering an unvarnished look at how easily justice can be manipulated and how much it can cost to fight back.