benschultz

Two Ordinary Cops

The two ordinary cops are former Northern Territory Police Officers Remote Sergeant Ben Schultz and Detective Sergeant Damien Barbe. With over 25 years experience Ben and Damo share stories from their time in the job. Follow along through the laughter, anger and tears that come with the rigours of Policing Australia’s last frontier.

Be sure to visit the podcast's website and support the creator: benschultz.podbean.com

Author

benschultz

Category

True Crime

Podcast website

benschultz.podbean.com

Latest episode

Oct 16, 2026

Where to listen?

Podcasts in the app Replaio Radio Coming soon

Podcasts are coming to the app soon. Install now and be the first to see a whole new take on podcasts

Get it on Google Play Install for free Android almost 10M downloads · 4.8 rating iOS soon

Episodes

Episode 95 – From Rolfe to Roadshows: Live Shows, Guests & What’s Next 07.11.2025

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...

Episode 94 – Part 7 Interview with Zach Rolfe – Your Questions Answered. Honest, Authentic and Unfiltered 31.10.2025

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...

Episode 93 – Part 6 Interview with Zach Rolfe – Evidence on the Table, Everything Called Racist, Victims Forgotten 24.10.2025

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...

Episode 92 – Part 5 Interview with Zach Rolfe – Coronial Choices: Narrative, Bias, and the Evidence Left Behind 17.10.2025

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...

Episode 91 – Part 4 Interview with Zach Rolfe - Trial First, Truths Revealed: Evidence or Agenda? 10.10.2025

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...

Episode 90 – Part 3 Interview with Zach Rolfe - Arrest First, Answers Later: Impartial or Predetermined? 03.10.2025

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...

Episode 89 – Part 2 Interview with Zach Rolfe - The Shooting That Split a Nation. 26.09.2025

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...

Episode 88 – Part 1 Interview with Zach Rolfe - Voluntary Discomfort, Real-World Pressure. 19.09.2025

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...

Episode 87 – Mailbag Mayhem and a Bombshell 12.09.2025

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...

Episode 86 - Deep, Dark and Dirty – Tales of a Diver with Luke McCulloch 05.09.2025

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 29.08.2025

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...

Episode 84 – Lifeline on the Airwaves 22.08.2025

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...

Episode 83 – Off Duty, On Edge, and a Cartonable Offence 15.08.2025

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...

Episode 82 – Courts, Critics, and the Cops in Between 08.08.2025

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...

Episode 81 - OC Spray, Red Tape & the Politics of Common Sense. 01.08.2025

In this episode, Schultzy and Damo dive into the legalisation of OC spray in the NT, drawing on the real-life experiences of cops in Western Australia, where it’s already been legal for a couple of years. Schultzy then shares a story about two blokes who tried to pick a fight with him while he was off duty, leading to a chat about the importance of a cop’s presence and authority when managing a si...

Episode 80 – Auxiliaries, Ex-Mil, and Beers on the Bar 25.07.2025

In this episode, the Two Ordinary Cops shine a light on the unsung legends of policing — the police auxiliaries. From the calm voices behind the radio to the rock-solid support in the watch house, Damo and Schultzy reflect on the vital roles these members play behind the scenes. The boys also dive into what it’s really like when ex-military personnel swap camo for blue, breaking down both the chal...

Episode 79 – From Cop to Accused to Airborne: Jarrod Michael’s Journey 18.07.2025

From growing up idolising his VicPol father to being arrested and acquitted twice, Jarrod Michael's story is one of grit, loss, redemption—and altitude. In this episode, the Two Ordinary Cops dive deep into Jarrod’s short but impactful policing stint, the toll of false accusations, and the crushing feeling of being abandoned by the job he once dreamed of. But it doesn’t end there—Jarrod rebuilds,...

Episode 78 – From Courtroom to Coroner: That’s Not a Finding, That’s a Stitch-Up of Zach Rolfe 11.07.2025

The coronial inquest into the death of Kumanjayi Walker has made headlines around the world — but was it really about the death, or about bringing down Zach Rolfe? In this explosive episode, Schultzy and Damo discuss the fallout, questioning how a Supreme Court acquittal gave way to a coronial inquest that felt more like a public takedown than a fact-finding mission. They break down the legal proc...

Episode 77 – When Your Son Wears the Uniform: A Mother’s Perspective 04.07.2025

In this episode, the Two Ordinary Cops sit down with a very special guest—Schultzy’s mum, Liz. From guarding evidence in the red dirt of the Northern Territory to cooking meals for specialist squads, Liz shares what it’s really like watching your son step into a uniform and face the realities of policing. She opens up about the pride, the sleepless nights, and the unforgettable moments that come w...

Episode 76 – From PTSD to Purpose: Nick White’s Mission to Save First Responders 27.06.2025

In this powerful episode, we sit down with former paratrooper and NSW police officer Nick White. From high-risk military service to frontline policing in some of the toughest parts of Sydney, Nick opens up about the trauma that nearly broke him — including the heartbreaking moment he tried to save a one-week-old baby. Diagnosed with PTSD after years of cumulative trauma, Nick speaks candidly about...

Episode 75 – From Rookie Mistake to Tactical Expertise in an Interview with Ben Hosking 20.06.2025

The Two Ordinary Cops sit down with Ben Hosking — a former frontline cop turned tactical operator — for one of our rawest chats yet. Thrown into chaos straight out of the academy, Hosko faced riots, a taser mishap, and the harsh reality of policing in Tennant Creek. Years later, he was forced to shoot an armed offender. From high-risk incidents to elite policing and the lasting mental toll, this i...

Episode 74 – “Pepper Spray, Protesters and the Porn Channel Surprise” 13.06.2025

In Episode 74, the Two Ordinary Cops cover everything from snow in Hernani to sex dungeons in Kununurra. Damo and Schultzy reflect on the Northern Territory's move to legalise capsicum spray for civilians—and debate whether it’s empowering the public or arming the crooks. They also tackle the hot-button issue of deaths in custody, offering a frontline insight into investigative transparency that r...

Episode 73 – The Bobby Principle: Why Respect for Police Rises—and Falls: 06.06.2025

In this episode of Two Ordinary Cops, Damo and Schultzy dive into the complex topic of public respect for police — where it comes from, how it can be lost in a heartbeat, and what it really takes to earn it back. From crowd control at footy games to walking the beat in remote communities, they explore the idea of "The Bobby Principle” — that being visible, present and genuinely engaged with your c...

Episode 72 – Overseas Recruits, Overtime & the Price of a Carton 30.05.2025

In Episode 72 – Overseas Recruits, Overtime & the Price of a Carton, the Two Ordinary Cops dive into the real cost of life in the blue. From breaking down how junior cops can crack six figures (if they're willing to sacrifice sleep), to the unofficial rules of “cartonable offences” and kangaroo courts, Damo and Schultzy mix laughs with hard truths. They also answer questions from a would-be re...

Episode 71 – Boot Camps, Broken Systems, and Blokes Like Mickey 23.05.2025

In this episode of Two Ordinary Cops, Damo and Schultzy dive deep into the tough conversations — from viral post turtle banter to the devastating reality behind police suicide and youth crime in the Territory. Damo reflects on the tragic loss of his mate, Mickey D — a true legend of the Northern Territory Police — and what made him so special. They unpack what worked in the past for youth justice,...

Listen to the Two Ordinary Cops podcast in Replaio

Radio and podcasts in one app - free, with no sign-up. Install today and do not miss the launch

Get it on Google Play

Replaio is not a podcast publisher; show names, artwork and audio belong to their authors and are distributed through public RSS feeds.