They Said It Could Not Be Done: Police Undercover With the Crips

January 14, 2026

West Palm Beach, Fl - For years, the consensus in law enforcement circles was clear: it simply couldn't be done. Infiltrating a violent street gang like the Crips, especially as a white officer crossing deep racial, cultural, and territorial lines, was viewed as too risky, too improbable, and ultimately impossible to sustain safely or effectively.

Then one determined Texas cop stepped forward and proved everyone wrong.

Tegan Broadwater, a veteran of the Fort Worth Police Department, spent nearly two years deeply embedded in one of the most notorious Crips sets operating in Fort Worth. What started as skepticism, and even outright mockery, from some colleagues evolved into one of the department's most impactful undercover operations ever.

Broadwater's remarkable journey has been featured on various platforms, including podcasts like the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast (available for free on their website, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and many major podcast services). His story continues to spark discussions across social media, including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and more.

When "Impossible" Becomes a Challenge

"They told me flat out that it wouldn't work," Broadwater later recalled. "That I wouldn't blend in, wouldn't be accepted, and wouldn't survive long enough to make a case. I took that personally."

Undercover operations were nothing new, but Broadwater's vision went far beyond typical short-term buys or surface-level contacts. This was full immersion, deep cover, where the officer doesn't just visit the criminal world but lives it.

He posed as a high-end cocaine dealer named Tee Cadell, stepping into a violent neighborhood nicknamed "The Fishbowl" (a boxed-in area with limited entry and exit points, making it a natural fortress for gang activity). The set he targeted was heavily involved in drug trafficking, prostitution, and brutal violence that plagued local communities.

The risks were stark. "If you're discovered," Broadwater said, "there's no arrest. There's no backup. There's just consequences."

Life Inside the Fishbowl

The operation became an intense psychological battle, particularly with a sharp, street-savvy kingpin known as M.D., who had keen instincts and zero patience for slip-ups.

Broadwater built trust gradually, navigating constant threats of betrayal, violence, and exposure. "The stress doesn't turn off," he explained. "You're always acting, always watching, always measuring your words. Eventually, that pressure catches up to you."

Over the course of about 18 months to two years (accounts vary slightly in retellings), the effort, known as Operation Fishbowl, dismantled a major Crips network. It resulted in the arrests of around 51 gang members (with some sources noting 41 receiving federal sentences totaling 629 years), major drug and money seizures, and recognition including the U.S. Attorney Commendation Award and Fort Worth PD's Officer of the Year.

Yet the victory carried a heavy personal toll. Living amid constant danger, forming complex relationships in a world of generational crime, and witnessing cycles of poverty and violence firsthand changed him profoundly.

"I didn't leave because I was weak," Broadwater said of his early retirement from the department. "I left because the work changes you. And I knew it was time to choose my family, my health, and my future."

From the Streets to the Page and Beyond

Broadwater chronicled his experience in the memoir Life in the Fishbowl: The Harrowing True Story of One Cop Who Took Down 51 of the Nation’s Most Notorious Crips and His Cultural Awakening Amidst a Poor, Gang-Infested Neighborhood. The book mixes gripping, high-stakes narrative with reflections on the War on Drugs, gang culture, racial dynamics, and the psychological impact of deep undercover work.

All profits from the book support charities mentoring children of incarcerated parents. "If we want real change," Broadwater noted, "we have to break the cycle before it starts."

The book has earned praise from notable figures, including Mike Levine (author of Deep Cover), who called it "must-reading for every cop," former Apollo XVII Commander Gene Cernan, who described it as "a gripping story of determination and courage," and retired FBI Hostage Rescue Team Commander Danny O. Coulson.

Today, Broadwater shares his insights through podcasts, speaking engagements, and his work as a CEO, musician, and philanthropist. He focuses on education, mentorship, and reform, highlighting the human cost of undercover operations, identity challenges, and building better police-community relations.

"They said it couldn't be done," Broadwater reflected. "But sometimes the impossible just needs someone willing to step into the fire and stay there long enough to change things."

His story transcends typical police tales. It's about courage, the consequences of immersion in extreme worlds, and the unseen sacrifices made by those who go undercover into places most will never go.

For the full episode featuring Broadwater, check out the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast on their website, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or most podcast delivery platforms. Follow updates on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and other platforms for more.