Tall Tails and True

Roger is back from Japan with a world title (gold medal), a silver medal and plenty of stories from the trip. He shares what it was like competing at the SJJIF World Championships before we turn to a question from one of our listeners, Jeannette: what is the funniest hiding place or chase you have ever had with a dog?

That question takes us back to the Dog Squad. Kancho tracks down crooks after a break-in, Roger recalls falling through one roof and getting stuck on another, and Dax the Rottweiler joins him for a bushcraft course with a lesson in camouflage.

Have a question for Roger about policing or dog training? Send it in for a future episode of Tall Tails & True.

An inmate escapes from custody, a knife-wielding offender, riots in Sydney — and a police dog who paid the ultimate price.

In Episode 16 of Tall Tails and True, Roger takes us through some of the more confronting incidents from his years in the NSW Police.

We hear about a juvenile offender who escaped while being transported from a police station, and Roger’s pursuit and arrest with Jane by his side.

Roger then recounts the arrest of a Frenchman who had stabbed multiple people in Sydney, including a police officer, before barricading himself inside a house.

It raises an important question: why wasn’t Kancho sent in?

Roger explains the protocols around deploying police dogs when knives are involved, why protecting the dogs is such an important consideration, and the tragic reality that some police dogs have been killed or seriously injured in the line of duty.

We also revisit Roger’s involvement in the Redfern and Cronulla riots. At Redfern, Roger’s dog Anja was right there alongside him, bravely working as rocks were being thrown at police. Even after being struck in the leg by a rock and bleeding, Anja continued trying to catch the rocks being thrown.

And to finish, we bring Roger’s story right up to the present. At the time of recording, he’s preparing to head to Japan to compete in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

From chasing offenders to chasing submissions — Roger clearly isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

Listen to Episode 16 of Tall Tails and True NOW

A stolen car. A smash-and-grab. A police dog named Kancho. And a pursuit that ends with Roger and Kancho taking an unexpected plunge into Blackwattle Bay.

In Episode 15, Roger recounts another memorable story from his years in the NSW Police Dog Unit, tracking offenders believed to be responsible for a daring robbery at a high-end Oxford Street boutique.

Before the chase, Roger answers Matt’s question about the hardest types of people he encountered during his policing career.

And, naturally, an episode about Kancho wouldn’t be complete without hearing about his reputation for biting offenders — along with some allegations from Roger’s fellow officers!

Another story from Roger’s book, another chapter from a remarkable career… and one very memorable swim.

What happens when a police dog goes missing in the middle of a job? As it turns out, it’s happened to Roger—and he’s got some stories to tell!

In this episode, Roger recalls a couple of occasions when he lost track of his own dog while out on the job, along with some stories of other handlers who found themselves in the same predicament. Because even highly trained police dogs don’t always do exactly what they’re supposed to!

But the episode takes a much more serious turn as Roger recounts his involvement in the Bathurst riots of 1985. He shares what it was like to be there, the danger faced by police on the ground, and an experience that remains one of the more confronting moments of his career.

From lost dogs and frantic searches to a night of real danger and uncertainty, this episode is another glimpse into the unpredictable reality of life in the police and the Dog Squad.

Tall Tails & True — real stories from a life with police dogs.

Even experienced dog handlers get it wrong sometimes.

In this episode, Roger looks back at some of the less-than-brilliant things he’s done over the years—including the time he was called out on a job… and left his dog at home!

But there’s plenty of serious dog work too. Roger shares some incredible tracking stories and explains what actually happens when a police dog is called to a crime scene. How do they find a scent? What are they looking for? And how can a dog follow the trail of a person who has left the scene?

Drawing on decades of experience working with police dogs, Roger takes us behind the scenes of one of the most remarkable skills in the Dog Squad—the ability to turn a seemingly ordinary crime scene into a trail that only a highly trained dog can follow.

There are plenty of laughs, a few “what was I thinking?” moments, and some truly incredible stories from a career spent working alongside some extraordinary dogs.

Tall Tails & True — real stories from a life with police dogs.

Roger reflects on an unexpected chapter outside policing—his introduction to traditional samurai sword training and the discipline it demanded, a pursuit he would take up years into his police career.

The focus then turns to the beginning of his long-awaited journey into the NSW Police Dog Unit.

Roger shares the demanding selection process, the disappointment of several dogs that weren’t the right fit, and the moment he was paired with a dog named Devil—whom he renamed Kancho.

Together, Roger and Kancho completed their training and formed a partnership that would launch a 25-year career in the Dog Unit.

In this episode, Roger also recounts some of Kancho’s first operational jobs, offering a glimpse into the trust, teamwork, and split-second decisions that define police dog handling.

It’s the beginning of a partnership that would produce many remarkable stories still to come.

After returning from the Northern Territory, Roger was posted to Campbelltown, where policing took on a very different pace.

He reflects on a brief stint in the detectives—a role that ultimately wasn’t the right fit. While working there, he applied for the NSW Police Dog Unit, setting in motion the next chapter of his career.

Away from the job, life was changing just as quickly. His first daughter was born, his first marriage came to an end, and, a few years later, he met fellow police officer Jane. Assigned as her training buddy at Campbelltown, a professional partnership gradually became something more.

Shortly after marrying Jane, Roger received his long-awaited transfer to the Dog Unit—beginning a career that would span the next 25 years and define much of his policing life.

This episode explores the personal and professional crossroads that shaped the path ahead.

This episode opens with a heartfelt tribute to Roger’s friend and colleague, Mark “Ocko” Martin, whose passing during a family holiday in Bali has been deeply felt. Roger, Ocko and fellow Dog Squad officer Tony Irons served together for 25 years, and at the time were the longest-serving members of the NSW Police Dog Squad—a remarkable legacy of friendship, loyalty and service.

Roger also shares the joy of reconnecting with one of the Gove Kids more than 40 years after they first met.

From there, Roger reflects on memorable trips with the Gove Surf Life Saving Club, including a visit to Sydney where he attended a NSW Police pre-recruitment session as he considered transferring from the Northern Territory. Another trip to Bali led to a chance meeting with the legendary John Will, whose influence helped establish Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Australia.

The conversation then follows Roger through the process of joining the NSW Police Force, the demands of academy training, the challenges of Tactical Response Group (TRG) selection, and the beginning of a new chapter with his first posting to Campbelltown.

An episode that weaves together remembrance, reunion, martial arts history and the pursuit of a new direction in policing.

Some stories are requested by listeners. Others are too good not to tell.

In Episode 9 of Tall Tails & True, Roger answers audience questions about the notorious tow truck scams of the late 1970s and 1980s and shares his knowledge of dog training, drawing on decades of hands-on experience.

The conversation then turns to one of the Territory's most intriguing characters—Jacky Willy. Who was he, and why has his story endured for decades?

Roger also recalls another tale of cash disappearing after a Crown & Anchor card game, before reflecting on the mysterious disappearance of a Naval Cadet who vanished while swimming in Gove Harbour, never to be seen again.

History, mystery, policing, dog training and unforgettable Territory stories—this is another episode you won't want to miss.

Roger reflects on a range of seafaring deployments across the Northern Territory, where policing extended far beyond land.

From responding to a tense situation aboard a tanker to carrying out prawn trawler inspections and other maritime duties, each call brought its own challenges in isolation, authority and control at sea.

The episode also follows Roger’s move to Alice Springs, where he was immediately confronted with the realities of outback policing—from responding to a major brawl to searching the desert for a missing woman in extreme conditions.

Along the way, there are unforgettable encounters with buffalo, insights into policing across some of Australia’s most remote landscapes, and the unpredictable moments that made every day on the job different from the last.

It’s another episode filled with true stories, remarkable characters and life on the frontline in the Northern Territory.