Crime, Chaos and Controversy

Every major operation begins with uncertainty.

For thirty-five years, Glen McEwen built a career making decisions when the answers weren't clear. Rising from a young Australian Federal Police recruit to one of its senior operational commanders, he confronted organised crime, terrorism and international crises at the highest levels of policing.

From the Bali bombings and international drug syndicates to people smuggling, corruption, cybercrime and the Tham Luang cave rescue in Thailand, McEwen worked alongside police, intelligence agencies and governments across Australia and the region. Drawing on more than three decades of operational experience, he takes readers inside the investigations, leadership decisions and international operations that rarely become part of the public record.

Yet the greatest challenges were not always found in the operation itself. They emerged over time, as years of responsibility, leadership and difficult decisions accumulated beyond the headlines.

Through McEwen's journey from young recruit to senior operational commander, readers witness the evolution of the Australian Federal Police and gain an insider's understanding of the decisions, pressures and responsibilities that define a life in modern policing.