“Badge Unbroken: The Robert Hall Story,” co-authored by Robert Hall and Oxford writer Sandy Grisham, dives into the dramatic true story of a man once destined to lead the Tupelo Police Department—until a single moment changed everything.

In 1987, Hall was sworn into the Tupelo Police Department, quickly proving himself a natural leader. Hall rose through the ranks to become deputy chief and even graduated from the FBI National Academy. Many saw Hall as the next police chief. But in 2006, a sudden decision led to his suspension, and he found himself facing charges of obstruction of justice and perjury.

“Badge Unbroken,” published by Nautilus Publishing and released on April 10, is Hall’s first opportunity to publicly share his side of the story.

The story might never have been told if not for a chance encounter involving Grisham’s husband, Dr. Vaughn Grisham, a longtime University of Mississippi professor. While researching a book on Tupelo’s civic evolution, Vaughn asked to ride along with a local police officer. That officer was Robert Hall.

A friendship formed, and in 2020, he sought his friend’s help to tell his story.

“He asked Vaughan if he’d write his biography,” Sandy Grisham recalls. “But Vaughan was already working on another project, so he said, ‘Sandy will do it.’

“I told him there were a few things that I was adamant about. Number one, I will not write anything that isn’t absolutely true. Number two, I will not write anything that’s angry. And then the third thing was, ‘I have to crawl inside your head. And he said, ‘Okay.’”

Though she claims she’s “never been a writer,” Grisham brought 80+ years of life experience to the table. A former secretary, teacher and world traveler, she’s also a wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who’s been writing since high school.

“We just fit,” Grisham said. “I learned a great deal from him.”

The book chronicles Hall’s early days as a dispatcher, his rapid rise in the department, and the explosive events of 2006 that led to his downfall—and eventual redemption. After being acquitted in a 2007 trial, Hall rebuilt his life from the ground up. He later returned to the police department under new leadership in 2010, only to find that many of the same barriers still stood in his way.

For Grisham, the experience was transformative.

“I learned more from Robert than I ever could’ve imagined,” she said. “You don’t realize how much you don’t know about another culture until someone brings you into their world.”

Readers will have the chance to meet Hall and Grisham at a book signing event from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on May 2 at Off Square Books on the Square in Oxford.

To order “Badge Unbroken: The Robert Hall Story,” visit Square Books or Amazon.com.