Badge Under Fire
From Carnival to Courtroom: Local author and retired police officer’s story of resilience in his fight for the truth
Story by Mary Hill | Photos by Erika Carter
Pictured above: Local PK resident Chad Jensen has recently released a book titled “Badge Under Fire.” In this work, Jensen details his experiences with a justice system that falters when authority is not held accountable, as well as the significant costs associated with standing up against it.
When he was 8 years old, Possum Kingdom resident Chad Jensen knew he wanted to be a police officer to serve his community, protect others and make a positive difference in society.
But after more than two decades of living his dream as a police officer in Pomona, California, Jensen received a phone call from his legal defense fund attorney that changed everything. The phone call stemmed from an incident that occurred in September 2015 while Jensen was working a routine overtime shift at the Los Angeles County Fair.
In his newly published book, titled “Badge Under Fire,” Jensen chronicles not only his experience with a justice system that fails when authority goes unchecked, but how much it can cost to fight back.
A recent press release for the book noted that “Badge Under Fire” is part memoir and part exposé because it offers readers an unvarnished look at how easily justice can be manipulated.
Jensen said his daughter encouraged him to write the book, and he was quick to describe his experience as faith building because he was being blessed when he needed it and not when he wanted it.
“I sat there completely naïve to the federal system,” Jensen said when recalling the more than five-year fallout following a lawful arrest. “We are sheep in this world, and that is the key reason I wrote this book.”
Jensen, who was raised and spent his career in southern California, now lives in the PK community with his wife, Amiee, whom he credited as being his “true rock.” They live on 10 acres with a surrounding area of what Jensen describes as “all kinds of peace and quiet.”
When reflecting on his life now, Jensen said he finally feels closure, and that he has everything his heart and soul needs right here. He added that his focus is on what is important and evident by looking around him, and he is of the opinion that Possum Kingdom Lake is the best lake in Texas.
Jensen’s horse, Chevy, rounds out his local support team and has provided his owner with calm and grace throughout the long legal battle. The change of scenery also has made a difference in the lives of Jensen’s family, and he said he is grateful every single day to have his tribulations behind him.
Despite the negative circumstances that arose during his legal fight, Jensen is quick to recognize the moments of light and hope that gave him the strength to keep going, and in his book he acknowledged the people who sustained him, alongside the details of those moments of light. He admitted to not having explanations other than divine intervention for several of the positive things that happened both inside and outside of the courtroom.
“I have a sense of peace about those moments that brought light to the case,” Jensen said. “God was the biggest force stepping in at the right time.”
Jensen’s career as a police officer is made up of much more than the fallout from the 2015 incident. During his 24 years with the police department in Pomona, Jensen demonstrated a consistent commitment to his community sourced from what he described as his love for the job. His accolades include a life-saving award and another for being named the department’s officer of the year, and he also was recognized for his valuable work within the community he served. Jensen instituted a recruitment mentorship program and was instrumental in starting his department’s Cops 4 Kids program.
What Jensen described as his legal nightmare began September 16, 2015, when he was involved in a low-level use-of-force arrest that was within policy and the law. Just over two years later, on October 25, 2017, Jensen received a life-changing phone call from his attorney while driving home from work, letting him know he had been indicted. He later found out the indictment also included his partner from that night, along with the internal affairs team member assigned to the case.
Jensen’s book outlines the chain of events that followed, from the first grand jury – with 20 witnesses not returning an indictment – to the case’s second grand jury with one FBI agent testifying to summarize prior grand jury witness testimonies. With the controlled narrative, the second grand jury returned an indictment within an hour.
Jensen’s roller-coaster ride continued when the first trial resulted in an 11-to-1 jury deadlock. A mistrial was declared, and the sole juror who voted not guilty has not been seen or heard from since.
That mystery juror, labeled as a guardian angel by Jensen’s attorney and as a child seeing the world for the first time by Jensen’s wife, is one of the divine intervention moments described in Jensen’s story.
The second trial resulted in a not-guilty verdict for Jensen after a series of twists and turns, including fraudulent information provided by FBI agents to the grand jury, concealed witness statements and redacted state trial transcripts.
Based on post-verdict feedback, it was clear to Jensen that this corruption and concealment did not escape the notice of the jurors. In his book, he said America’s judicial system is the best in the world, but it remains flawed, especially at the federal level.
As Jensen tells it, cases like this are rarely won, and that is why his story needs to be told.
The PK community is blessed by the fact that Jensen and his wife have chosen to plant roots here and make it their sanctuary. Their story brings out the best in people, and the neighborhood is brighter with them in it.
Pictured above: Chad Jensen’s book, Badge Under Fire, A fight for Truth is available now on Amazon, at Target and other retailers.
Pictured above: Chad and his wife Amiee. An audio book will soon be available, including author’s notes with Amiee that provide her perspective of events.
