Undercover Trooper & ATF Special Agent Jennifer Eskew. Becoming Fire! (Part One)

Send us Fan MailWelcome everyone, to part one of my interview with retired ATF Special Agent Jennifer Eskew. The conclusion of this interview will air next Sunday!A little about Jennifer: Jennifer (CLARKE) Eskew is a former Virginia State Trooper, a retired ATF Senior Special Agent, an Author, and subject matter expert in undercover operations, fire and explosion origin and cause determinations, and criminal investigations involving the violent crimes of arson and bombings, armed career criminals, and financial fraud.Jennifer graduated from the Virginia State Police Academy in 1986, beginning her career as a uniform trooper, then as an undercover trooper. This period of her law enforcement career is the focus of her newly released debut true-crime memoir, BECOMING FIRE: Chasing the Passion to Protect, Serve, and Love. Jennifer became a Special Agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) in 1990. She worked undercover and investigated criminal cases, eventually joining the ATF National Response Team in 1994, becoming a Certified Explosives Specialist and a Certified Fire Investigator. She was involved in numerous large-scale arson/bombing investigations, including Centennial Park, Sandy Springs double bombings, The Otherside Lounge bombing, and the 9/11 Pentagon terror attack.  She’s currently writing her second true-crime memoir, highlighting her undercover casework with the ATF.Please enjoy this fascinating conversation as we track Jennifer’s early law enforcement career as she transitioned from trooper to ATF agent. Next week, we focus on her career with the ATF and the dangerous, undercover, and high-profile cases she investigated.  In today’s episode, we discuss:·      The violent incident that happened to her mother and sister that shook her small town and lit the fuse to her wanting to be in law enforcement. ·      From wanting to save Free Willy to becoming a cop. How did that happen?·      How a trip to Japan at a young age molded her future. ·      Going into the Virginia State Police academy and the medical scare that almost prevented her from becoming a trooper.·      Having a boss tell her class that women and wine will torpedo your career.·      An unusual first day of field training.·      The pitfalls of unprofessional FTO / Recruit relationships.·      Jennifer’s first day of going out solo as a trooper.·      Becoming an undercover trooper. How she got picked and what cases she worked on.·      Going undercover to catch a bomber on a college campus.·      Being bait for a serial killer.All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.Please visit Jennifer's website to learn more about her and her book.Check out my newest book! Police Stories: The Rookie Years - True Crime, Chaos & Life as a Big City Cop!Head on over to my website! What's the craziest thing you saw when you were a cop?My first week on the job, a guy running at me with a butcher knife. He'd just killed his brother over the last hot dog.That's chapter 1. There are 33 more.Police Stories: The Rookie Years just launched - available on Amazon. Search 'Police Stories Patrick O'Donnell' or click thSupport the show