Working in child protection takes you to the darkest corners of humanity. Former detective Jack Roney, devoted over a decade to Queensland Police's Child Protection Unit, where he not only tackled some of the most heinous offences in the Crimes Act, but also took on the role of guardian for children who had witnessed unimaginable horrors, including homicide.

In this discussion with Brent Sanders, Jack shares the harrowing story of two parents who were murdered in front of their seven children. Hear about the complexities of working in this field, the emotional toll it takes on an officer, and the nuanced challenges of dealing with minors in the aftermath of such traumatic events.

This episode has descriptions of child sexual abuse and SIDS. For further information and support for issues regarding sexual assault, family, and domestic violence, contact 1800 RESPECT. For further information and support regarding SIDS or the loss of a child, contact the Red Nose Foundation. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. If it's an emergency, dial 000.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.