Two Ordinary Cops

One minute it's a routine job, the next you're fighting for your life. In this episode of Two Ordinary Cops, Damo and Schultzy discuss the recent stabbing of a Queensland police officer and reflect on their own experiences where seemingly ordinary jobs turned into life-threatening situations in seconds. From knife attacks and violent confrontations to the challenges of policing remote Northern Ter...

Welcome back to another episode of Two Ordinary Cops! This week, Damo and Schultzy kick things off with some fantastic listener feedback, shout-outs and a reminder of why talking about mental health and supporting one another is so important. Then, thanks to a listener's question about buying an ex-police vehicle, the boys take a trip down memory lane and talk about the police cars they drove thro...

This week we hand the episode over to you, answering questions and sharing a few stories along the way. We start on the serious side after a listener reaches out following a horrific fatal crash he came across on his way to work. We talk about critical incidents, the things you can’t unsee, the importance of debriefing and why asking for help isn’t weakness. From there, things get a little more “T...

A listener question gets Damo and Schultzy talking about something every cop should understand — who’s got your back when things go wrong? In this episode, the boys look at the role of police unions and associations and why they’re about far more than just pay and conditions. From legal representation and disciplinary matters to supporting members through some of the toughest moments of their care...

Welcome back to the Two Ordinary Cops for the fourth and final part of our interview with Roger Mayer APM. In this episode, things get personal as Roger remembers his former NSW Police Dog Unit colleague Brett Meredith — a great mate and police officer who would later join the Northern Territory Police and work alongside both Damo and Schultzy. The three reflect on Brett’s character, his ability a...

Welcome back to the Two Ordinary Cops as we continue our conversation with Roger Mayer APM. In this episode, Roger takes us from the NT Police to the NSW Police, where the action quickly steps up. Starting in general duties at busy Campbelltown, Roger recalls confronting fatal accidents and the toll those jobs could take before moving into the Tactical Response Group — including a firsthand accoun...

Welcome back to Part Two with Roger Mayer APM. In Episode 139, Roger takes us back to what it was really like joining the Northern Territory Police in the late 1970s and early ’80s — a very different era of policing. It was a wild show back then. Communications were limited, backup wasn’t always available, and officers often had to think on their feet. When you were out there on your own, the powe...

This episode is an absolute blast. Roger Mayer not only tells you of his upbringing and how it turned him into the police officer and man he became. But it explains dedication and driving you to exceed expectations of what of what former experts thought you would reach. This is coming from a man who was not the best at school but showed his abilities in policing and how you are the person that def...

  What does a major murder investigation really look like from the inside? This week, Damo takes us back to Operation Nina, the investigation into the 2011 murder of Ray Niceforo in Katherine — the Northern Territory’s first known contract killing. Damo was one of the investigators at the front end of the case and personally arrested Zach Greve, one of three young men initially convicted of the mu...

This week on Two Ordinary Cops, Schultzy and Damo take listeners behind the police cordon following the recent tragic murder-suicide in Charleville. We break down what actually happens during a major critical incident — from inner and outer cordons and specialist police to negotiation and the difficult decisions being made behind the scenes. Schultzy also reflects on attending a murder-suicide as...

Former Queensland Police detective and undercover operative Todd Maguire shares the story behind the badge. What starts as a conversation about policing quickly becomes something much more powerful. Todd opens up about personal tragedy, PTSD, grief, healing and finding purpose again after life changed forever. For us, this episode felt like the best kind of police debrief. You start by talking thr...

A routine welfare check can become a life-or-death situation in an instant—and this week we discuss the tragic shooting of Queensland Police Constable Jordan May and the extraordinary courage shown by Senior Constable Ash Drummond in bringing his injured colleague to safety. Drawing on our own frontline policing experience, we explore why no police job is ever truly "routine", the importance of re...

What happens when police officers from opposite sides of the world sit down and compare notes? As it turns out, far more is shared than separates them. This week, Schultzy and Damo welcome Inspector Ben Dimmock from Bedfordshire Police in the United Kingdom for the Two Ordinary Cops' first international guest interview. With more than 24 years of policing experience, Ben shares his remarkable care...

When Queensland Police Dog Squad Officer in Charge Joel Davidson first joined the police at just 19 years old, he never imagined the journey ahead. From proactively hunting offenders on the streets of Toowoomba to leading the Mount Isa Dog Squad, Joel shares what it really takes to become a police dog handler, how these remarkable dogs save lives, and why they're one of policing's most valuable re...

In Episode 131, Schultzy and Damo tackle one of the biggest questions facing modern policing: at what point does doing your job become a crime? Using the recent conviction of NSW Police Sergeant Ben Bryant as the catalyst, they explore personal responsibility, accountability, police pursuits, youth offending, sentencing, and whether the justice system is shifting responsibility away from offenders...

Before Two Ordinary Cops ever had a name, one of the titles we seriously considered was The Real Northern Territory. It only seems fitting that 130 episodes later, we finally tell that story. The Northern Territory is unlike anywhere else in Australia. It's a place of breathtaking landscapes, unforgettable characters, incredible mateship, and communities that leave a lasting mark on everyone who s...

The conversation around Australia's Special Forces has never been more relevant. After watching the powerful documentary Bravery and Betrayal, Schultzy and Damo take an honest look at the extraordinary courage of the men who served in Afghanistan, the sacrifices made by their families, and the toll that service takes long after the fighting ends. From daily combat operations and impossible decisio...

In this powerful episode, the boys sit down with Queensland policing legend Keith Banks. From working deep undercover and helping build Queensland’s early tactical policing capability, to facing some of the most confronting moments of his career, Keith shares the lessons that shaped his life both in and out of uniform. Drawing on experiences from his books and years on the frontline, Keith reflect...

In this special episode, Schultzy's partner, Miriam Leask, joins the podcast to share her firsthand account of living through the devastating Christchurch earthquakes. From the terrifying moments when the earth shook beneath her feet to the long road of recovery that followed, Miriam provides a powerful and emotional insight into one of New Zealand's darkest chapters. Miriam reflects on the incred...

This week, Schultzy and Damo reflect on their experience at the Queensland Police Union Council Conference and the incredible people they met along the way. From frontline coppers and union representatives to those who continue to serve despite significant personal challenges, this episode is a reminder of the strength, resilience and camaraderie that exists within the policing family. The boys sh...

In this special live episode, Schultzy and Damo take the stage at the Queensland Police Union Council Conference to share their experiences from policing in some of the toughest and most remote parts of Australia. The boys discuss the lasting impact of the Zach Rolfe case on Northern Territory policing, the importance of strong leadership, mateship, and looking after your people, and the challenge...

In this episode of Two Ordinary Cops, Schultzy and Damo sit down with exercise physiologist Jack Woods from to discuss the powerful connection between exercise, routine and mental health recovery for first responders. Jack shares his experience working with police, ambos and other emergency services members suffering from PTSD, depression and burnout, explaining how small achievable goals, account...

For 23 years, Lyn Kowalski worked behind the scenes in the Queensland Police Service — but as you’ll hear in this episode, the job was anything but “just admin.” From homicide investigations and child protection cases to supporting detectives through some of the darkest moments of their careers, Lyn shares the side of policing the public rarely sees. The long hours, the emotional toll, the black h...

In this episode, we come to you live from the National Suicide Prevention Conference, where we sit down with Nick White and Krista Hawke to talk about what’s really missing in the mental health space for first responders. Nick shares how Bellator Fortitudinum has grown from a small support network into a nationwide charity helping current and former first responders find connection, purpose, and s...

In this episode, we reflect on the tragic events out of Alice Springs and the loss of Kumunjayi Little Baby. We break down what actually happens during a major police investigation—from the initial response, search efforts, and escalation, through to arrest and the long road to prosecution. It’s a confronting conversation, but an important one. We talk about the balance between emotion and evidenc...