Two Ordinary Cops

After missing their first deadline in 105 episodes — thanks to a 250kg heifer flattening Damo’s wife — the Two Ordinary Cops are back on the mic. In this episode, Schultzy and Damo dive deep into one of the most fundamental — yet often underestimated — parts of policing: taking a proper statement. Sparked by Schultzy reviewing a poorly constructed statement in the Lockie Jones investigation, the b...

After a disrupted start to the year, Schultzy and Damo reunite to reset and kick off 2026. This episode is driven by listener feedback following recent powerful episodes, particularly the stories shared by Kath and Susie. The boys reflect on why those conversations mattered, how they humanised policing, and the impact they’ve had across Australia and New Zealand. They also share honest reflections...

In this episode, Schultzy flies solo while Damo takes some time out for family, and he dives into something deeply important. A huge thank you goes to Melanie Reid and Bonnie Sumner, whose powerful work on The Boy in the Water series helped bring this case, and its serious concerns, into the light and kept it in the public conversation. While visiting New Zealand, Schultzy travelled to Gore to wal...

In this shorter-than-usual Boxing Day catch-up, the Two Ordinary Cops jump on quickly to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a safe New Year. With family time taking priority over the holidays—and Schultzy heading over to New Zealand to spend time with loved ones—recording time has been tight, so this one is brief but heartfelt. Schultzy also shares that his NZ trip isn’t just about family; he’ll...

This week is another heavy one. In the wake of the Bondi tragedy, we pause to pay our respects to the victims and their families, and to acknowledge the first responders and everyday civilians who ran toward danger when most people were rightly running away. We don’t pretend to have all the facts — that’s what investigations and coronial processes are for — but we do talk through what these moment...

In this deeply personal episode, Brett’s wife, Senior Constable Susan Forte, shares what it’s like to hear your husband’s final moments over the police radio and live through the week that followed. From the frantic drive to the scene, to sitting in the paddock as she’s told Brett is gone, to a funeral watched by thousands in blue, Susan opens a raw window into grief, love, and the reality that ev...

In Part Three of our In Remembrance of Brett Forte series, Cath Nielsen takes us inside the coronial inquest and the fight for truth that followed Brett’s death. Cath reveals what happens when you challenge the accepted narrative from inside the job — how asking questions can lead to isolation, retaliation, and personal attacks. She outlines the missed intelligence, cultural issues, and leadership...

In Part Two of our In Remembrance of Brett Forte series, Cath Nielsen takes us through the immediate aftermath of the ambush — the shock, the confusion, and the heavy days that followed Brett’s death. Cath shares what it was like going home in the early hours still covered in Brett’s blood, breaking the news to her family, and feeling the weight of a community grieving beside her. She talks about...

In this deeply personal and emotional first instalment of our In Remembrance of Brett Forte series, we sit down with Queensland police officer Cath Nielsen, the partner who sat beside Brett in the Tactical Crime Squad vehicle on 29 May 2017 — the day he was ambushed and killed. For the first time on the podcast, Cath takes us inside the moments leading up to the shooting, the sudden explosion of a...

Part 2 of our first-ever live show gets raw, real, and bloody funny. The crowd jumps in with questions—some from people looking to join the job—sparking honest advice not just from us, but from the current serving cops in the room. We cover it all: mental-health jobs that can turn in a heartbeat, the art of leadership on the frontline, and lessons from decades in blue. Add in a few wild stories—a...

Our first-ever live show! We’re at the Gold Coast Tavern with a rowdy crowd, reunited with our recruit-college “Mum” Di Gallo, swapping pink-slip memories, OC “party pack” war stories, the infamous Christmas domestic, and the legendary “red button” mishap. Plus, Todd jumps up for pursuit and stinger tales, and we launch the Cartonable Offence on the bar. Real cops, real laughs, real yarns—Part 1 s...

After seven huge weeks with Zach Rolfe, we’re back to basics—Two Ordinary Cops, eight jobs between us, and a candid debrief on where we’ve been and what’s coming. We unpack the big takeaways on resilience from the Rolfe series, preview an unmissable new multi-part interview with Cath Nielsen and Susie Forte (Brett Forte’s partner and widow), and recap our first live show—complete with real-world Q...

In the powerful conclusion to the Zach Rolfe series, the questions come from you — the listeners — and the answers come straight from Zach himself. No scripts, no rehearsals, just genuine, unfiltered truth. Schultzy and Damo sit down for one final deep dive where nothing’s off-limits. From leadership accountability and training shortfalls to moral courage, media bias, and what policing needs to lo...

In the final part of the coronial series, Zach Rolfe lays it all bare — the evidence, the bias, and the fallout that followed. He recounts being torn apart on the stand, the silence when hard evidence challenged the narrative, and the irony of an $11 million inquest that left victims and frontline cops worse off. Schultzy and Damo join Zach in unpacking what was really achieved, how the system fai...

In this fifth instalment of the Zach Rolfe series, Schultzy and Damo sit down with Zach as he unpacks what unfolded after his Supreme Court acquittal — the return to work, the internal reviews, and the long shadow of the coronial inquest. Zach details how his private phone was accessed, the handling of his text messages, and how selective evidence shaped public perception. Through the lens of form...

The Two Ordinary Cops return for Part 4 of the Zac Rolfe series, diving into the tense lead-up to the Supreme Court trial and the five gruelling weeks that followed. From delayed hearings, hidden evidence, and internal charges laid just days before proceedings, to Rolfe’s decision to take the stand and the jury’s final verdict—this episode exposes the fine line between justice and agenda. It’s a r...

In Part 3 of the Zac Rolfe series, we step into the moment everything changed—Rolfe’s arrest for murder. What followed raised difficult questions: was this an impartial investigation, or had the outcome already been decided? Rolfe recounts being directed to Darwin under the guise of “welfare,” only to face a murder charge days later, while the process itself left many wondering if justice was serv...

In Part 2, Zac Rolfe takes us inside the events of 9 November 2019 in Yuendumu — the night that changed his life and shook policing across Australia. From the lead-up and mounting risks, to the split-second moment when a routine arrest turned into a fight for survival, Zac recounts the stabbing, the shooting, and the desperate efforts to save Kumanjayi Walker’s life. He lays bare the reality behin...

In this first part of our three-part conversation with former NT Police Constable Zac Rolfe, we go behind the headlines to hear his story in his own words. From a privileged yet restless upbringing in Canberra, through boxing rings and the battlefields of Afghanistan, Zac explains how chasing discomfort and growth shaped him long before Alice Springs. He opens up about the culture shock of policin...

From listener shout-outs to cartonable offences that’ll make you shake your head, Schultzy and Damo dive into the good, the bad, and the downright funny side of policing life. This one’s packed with stories from the bush, hard truths about break-ins, and a few unforgettable Q&A moments. But stick around—because right at the end, the boys drop a bombshell about a guest every cop in Australia kn...

When a call comes in for a body recovery and you’re dropped into shark-infested waters, most would tap out. Luke McCulloch dove straight in — literally. In this gripping episode, Schultzy and Damo sit down with former WA cop and police diver Luke, whose 15-year career took him from the red dirt of remote mining towns to the pitch-black depths of underwater crime scenes. From recovering a suitcase...

Episode 85 – Hypervigilance, Heartbreak, and Healing, Interview with Karlie Fleming dives deep into the hidden toll of frontline policing and intelligence work. Karlie shares her powerful journey from chasing her dream of joining the police, to years spent in high-risk intel roles, through the trauma that nearly broke her, and finally the breakthrough that gave her life back. From the confronting...

In this episode, Schultzy and Damo dive into the lifeline of every first responder – the radio. From the gut-wrenching moments of being outnumbered on a hostile job to the sheer relief of hearing sirens racing in for backup, they unpack the power of comms and the mateship it represents. You’ll hear raw frontline stories, a shout-out to the unsung heroes in comms, and of course a cartonable moment...

In Episode 83 of Two Ordinary Cops, Schultzy and Damo take a step back from the front line and reflect on life after policing. From navigating the lingering effects of hypervigilance to the unexpected challenges of judging people by appearances, this episode dives deep into what it really means to switch off—or try to—when the uniform comes off. Along the way, they share hilarious and relatable “c...

In this episode, Schultzy and Damo dive into the often-misunderstood world of the courtroom, exploring the complicated relationship between frontline policing, public perception, and the justice system. They unpack the feedback cops cop — from both sides — and take a measured look at the way magistrates are sometimes unfairly judged by those who don’t see the full picture. From frustrating legisla...