BADGE UNBROKEN

A black cop's story of injustice and redemption in a small Mississippi town

Robert Hall, who had dreamed of being in law enforcement since he was a child, was sworn into the Tupelo Police Department in 1987. Robert excelled, rising to the rank of deputy chief (and even graduating from the FBI National Academy). Robert earned the respect of both White and Black citizens of Tupelo, and he appeared to be the heir apparent to chief of police.

But in 2006, Robert found himself at odds with white supremacists — within his own police department! A swift decision to spare a young Black suspect from a brutal arrest was twisted to suit his persecutors’ ends and was, ultimately, distorted to charge Robert with obstruction of justice and perjury.

From the cinders of racism, injustice, and a shattered career, Robert started over. He built a different life for himself and his family. In 2010, when new leadership emerged at the police department, Robert was asked to rejoin the force. Once again, he wrestled within a system that was reluctant to embrace a black man in a position of power.

Badge Unbroken lays bare the issues of race in law enforcement and community leadership. As Robert’s story unfolds, it illuminates the racial motivations and politics that have shaped the South since the Civil War — and that are still at work today.

Square Books

Lemuria Books

Reed's

PRAISE FOR BADGE UNBROKEN

Jack Reed, Jr., Mayor of Tupelo, MISSISSIPPI, 2009-2013

". . . a blow-by-blow account of the ups and downs and final ascent of one man's battle to end up on top."

Dr. Tonea Steward, Actress, author, and former dean, Alabama State University

"Badge Unbroken deserves a national voice; it is a painful journey shared by many in all fields of work, hope, and life."

Mary Ann Strong Connell, Author, An Unforeseen Lift

"Badge Unbroken reads like an intriguing novel set in the Mississippi world of lingering racial prejudice. Hall's story of courage, honor, and eternal optimism is a must-read for anyone involved in law enforcement or dedicated to making the world around them a better place."

The Reverend Christopher Powell, retired Episcopal priest

"The two things that are most apparent in Robert Hall's life are his courage and his willingness not to return evil for evil. His resilience and faith are as unwavering as this book is compelling."

Robert Earl Hall is a native of Saltillo, Mississippi, and a 1984 graduate of Saltillo High School. He earned an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice from Northeast Community College and is a graduate of both the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers Training Academy and the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, a program affiliated with the University of Virginia’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies.

Mr. Hall worked his way through the ranks of the Tupelo Police Department from 1997 to 2009 and again from 2010 to 2011, culminating in his service as Deputy Chief of Police. He has also served the Community Development Foundation as Director of Community Development and Toyota Manufacturing as Director of Corporate Security and Fire. He is currently a Financial Advisor with MassMutual/Capital Financial Group.

Mr. Hall has dedicated many years to serving others—both professionally and through active volunteerism. He has served on the boards of the Salvation Army, SAFE Inc., the Boys and Girls Club of America, and the Tupelo Neighborhood Partnership. He is also a program developer for Project ELECT (Enthusiastic Leaders Engaging Changing Times), an initiative focused on recruiting community members to help address issues such as school dropouts, crime, and teen pregnancy.

About Robert Hall

He played a key role in introducing Community Oriented Policing to the citizens of Tupelo and the Tupelo Police Department and assisted in the development and implementation of the successful Weed and Seed program in the Haven Acres neighborhood. His community efforts also include helping to establish the Tupelo Police Athletic League. He is a recent attendee of the Gustav Stresemann Institute in Bonn, Germany, where he delivered a presentation on comparative U.S.–German community-oriented policing and its implications for civil society and race relations.

Mr. Hall is also a Certified Ethics Instructor and a graduate of both the CDF Community Leadership Institute and the Midwest Community Development Institute. He serves on the board of directors for the CREATE Foundation and the Boy Scouts of America and is a Licensed Financial Representative (FIC, Series 6 & 63). In addition, he is the co-owner and partner of Journey Medical Training Center in Tupelo, Mississippi.

A recipient of the Northeast Mississippi Trailblazer Award, Mr. Hall is also a Master Mason of the Goodman Lodge. In May 2025, he published his autobiography, Badge Unbroken.

Robert and his wife of thirty-four years, Melissa Monroe Hall, are the proud parents of three children—Robert Terrell, Brandon, and Marissa. They are members of Mud Creek MB Church, where Robert serves as Deacon and Minister of Music.