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 on the realities of modern policing, the challenges faced on the ground, and the disconnect that can exist between frontline experience and public commentary.

A grounded return episode focused on reflection, connection, and what’s ahead for Two Ordinary Cops in 2026.

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 walk the ground, speak with those involved, and take a closer look into the heartbreaking case of three-year-old Lockie Jones, whose death in the Gore oxidation ponds has left more questions than answers.

From investigative red flags, unanswered questions, policing standards, hierarchy-driven decisions, and the duty to properly investigate — Schultzy talks openly and honestly about why this matters, why impartial policing is essential, and why Lockie, his family, and the community deserve clarity and truth.

This episode isn’t about politics. It’s about responsibility, good policing, and a little boy who loved cops.

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 be digging deeper into The Boy in the Water podcast and the death of 3-year-old Lachie Jones, who was found in the Gore sewerage ponds. From a policing perspective, he’ll be looking closely at aspects of the case that don’t seem to fit the accepted narrative—while making it clear nothing will be speculated on without proper evidence.

The boys reflect on a massive year that included powerful guests, emotional stories, laughs, live shows, and incredible listener support. They promise more conversations, more honesty, more humour, and more important voices in 2026—plus plans for another live show and a Christchurch catch-up for Kiwi cops and supporters.

A quick sign-off, a Christmas cheers, and a reminder: look after yourselves, look after each other, and we’ll see you in the New Year.

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 moments feel like on the ground: the radio traffic, the confusion, the fear, the split-second decisions, and the leadership that has to cut through chaos when lives are on the line. We also unpack the reality of mass-casualty response, why armchair criticism misses the point, and why the human courage shown that day matters.

It’s a respectful, honest discussion from two ex-coppers who’ve been to critical incidents — and who never forget the cost paid by victims, families, and the responders who carry it long after the scene is cleared.

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 every cop’s family lives with – it can happen to you.

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 failures exposed through the inquest, and the heavy personal toll of speaking up.

We also look at what real accountability means in policing, the key reforms that were introduced after the findings, and why owning mistakes is essential if future lives are to be protected.

This episode is about truth over comfort, courage over silence, and the hard path to building a better police force.

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 the Tactical Crime Squad office becoming a safe place, the moment Brett’s mates broke down, and meeting the Fort family for the first time in the middle of heartbreak.

We also explore the emotional toll of Brett’s funeral, a later pursuit that triggered her trauma, and the unspoken impact on partners, families, and frontline officers. Cath reflects on CERT’s bravery, the support of the Blue Family, and why every cop must take ownership of their mental health.

This episode is about the humans behind the headlines — and the reality of surviving what no one prepares you for.

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 automatic gunfire, and the desperate fight for survival as 27 rounds tore into their car. She opens up about the chaos, the fear, the slow-motion clarity, and the instinctive training that kicked in as she returned fire, tried to save Brett, and fought to stay alive.

But this episode isn’t just about the gunfight — it’s about the human cost.

Her courage in reliving this day isn’t for shock value — it’s for every cop, every family, and every person who needs to understand the reality behind the uniform.

This is Cath’s story.

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 taser mishap, a rooftop standoff solved with sausages, and the world’s worst naked arrest—and you’ve got one hell of a Q&A. Authentic, unfiltered, and full of laughs—this one’s for anyone who’s worn the badge or ever thought about it.

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 sets the tone. Tune in and be part of it.