Undercover Trooper & ATF Special Agent Jennifer Eskew. Becoming Fire! (Part Two) episode artwork

EPISODE · May 3, 2026 · 1H 2M

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

from Cops and Writers Podcast · host Patrick O'Donnell / Jennifer Eskew

Send us Fan MailWelcome back, everyone, for the conclusion of my interview with retired ATF Special Agent Jennifer Eskew. A little about Jennifer. Jennifer (CLARKE) Eskew is a former Virginia State Trooper, a retired ATF Senior Special Agent, an Author, and a 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 many 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 ATF.Please enjoy this fascinating conversation as we focus on her career with the ATF and the dangerous, undercover, and high-profile cases she investigated.  In today’s episode, we discuss:·      Why Jennifer chose a career with the ATF?·      The differences in switching over from state law enforcement to a federal agency. ·      Her first undercover role with the ATF.·      Her most memorable assignment was with the ATF. ·      Responding to the Pentagon on 9/11 and doing the arduous task of collecting evidence from the plane crash.·      Jennifer’s advice she would give to someone who wants to be a trooper or ATF agent.·      The physical and mental aftermath of agents working at the crash site at the Pentagon.·      Her new book, Becoming Fire: Chasing the Passion to Protect, Serve, and Love: A True Crime Memoir.·      Having the legendary Lt. Joe Kenda blurb her book. 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

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published May 3, 2026

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Send us Fan Mail Welcome back, everyone, for the conclusion of my interview with retired ATF Special Agent Jennifer Eskew. A little about Jennifer. Jennifer (CLARKE) Eskew is a former Virginia State Trooper, a retired ATF Senior Special Agent, an Author, and a 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. Jenni...

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

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