…Researched and contributed by Larry John for TDPel Media.
Ken Croke, an undercover cop who infiltrated the notorious Pagans Motorcycle Club, has revealed how he avoided having to get one of their tattoos.
Croke spent two years in the white supremacist gang, during which he witnessed violent crimes and secretly recorded meetings between gang members.
In his memoir, Riding with Evil, he recalls how he was the first federal agent to successfully infiltrate the club.
The retired agent told The Jordan Harbinger Show how the Pagans took the symbolism of their patches very seriously, but he managed to avoid wearing certain ones.
After one year, members of the gang were required to have a tattoo of Surtr’s sword on their neck, after three years they could get the word “Pagans” or a small version of the colours, and after seven years they could have full colours on their back.
Croke’s fake identity had fooled the gang to such an extent that he was offered a tattoo of Surtr’s sword during his time in the gang.
However, he was able to use the gang’s rule-breaking as an excuse to avoid the tattoo, saying he was already getting “some attitude from some folks” because he had “been cutting corners” and that he wanted to earn the tattoo.
Dodging the Tattoo
Croke knew he couldn’t get the tattoo but had to think of a way to get away with it without blowing his cover.
He told the chapter’s leader, “let’s just let this one run out, let me do my time and earn this one.”
The chapter president accepted Croke’s excuse and another bullet was dodged.
As a result of Croke’s investigation, more than 20 Pagans were arrested on charges including racketeering, murder conspiracy, extortion, drug trafficking, assault and weapons violations – resulting in combined prison sentences of over a hundred years.
Croke’s undercover investigation also resulted in two contracts being put out on him by the gang.
He told The Guardian that he refuses to live in fear and is very self-aware of his environment.
“Would they want to do harm to me? They could. I’m always keeping an eye out, but I’m not living my life looking over my shoulder.”
The Life of an Undercover Cop
Undercover investigations can be dangerous, as Croke’s case demonstrates.
Although he was able to infiltrate the gang and gather enough evidence to bring them to justice, he also put himself in harm’s way.
It’s easy to see how such an investigation could turn sour, resulting in injury or even death.
Nevertheless, without such investigations, it’s difficult to bring to justice those who operate in secret and are involved in criminal activities such as drug trafficking and murder conspiracy.