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.

Roger recalls the pursuit of Archie J—a case that moved across islands, townships, and remote communities in the Northern Territory.

What began as a straightforward capture quickly escalated into a repeated cycle of escape and response, stretching police resources across vast and difficult terrain.

In this episode, Roger reflects on the persistence required in remote policing, where containment is never guaranteed and every breakthrough can be short-lived.

Roger recalls a series of encounters tied to the phenomenon known locally as Gulka Man—unsettling moments that sit outside the usual framework of policing.

Not an investigation in the traditional sense, but repeated experiences shared across time and place, where explanation was never straightforward.

In the isolation of the Northern Territory, these encounters leave more questions than answers, shaped as much by environment, belief, and perception as by anything concrete.