In this episode, we go back to Tasmania in 2008, when serious allegations about Paul Reynolds were first put in writing inside Tasmania Police.

A newly released RTI reveals three key pieces of correspondence about what was allegedly said in a police bar allegations that Reynolds was a paedophile. But the documents also raise questions about what happened next, and what appears not to have happened.

Was Reynolds questioned? Were all witnesses formally interviewed? Was the matter investigated with the seriousness it deserved?

As calls grow for a parliamentary inquiry into how Tasmania Police handled allegations against Reynolds, this episode asks whether the warning signs were missed, minimised, or allowed to disappear into the system

In this episode, we go back to Tasmania in 2008, when serious allegations about Paul Reynolds were first put in writing inside Tasmania Police.
A newly released RTI reveals three key pieces of correspondence about what was allegedly said in a police bar allegations that Reynolds was a paedophile. But the documents also raise questions about what happened next, and what appears not to have happened.
Was Reynolds questioned? Were all witnesses formally interviewed? Was the matter investigated with the seriousness it deserved?
As calls grow for a parliamentary inquiry into how Tasmania Police handled allegations against Reynolds, this episode asks whether the warning signs were missed, minimised, or allowed to disappear into the system

A senior cop. Decades of rumours. A trail of victim-survivors, buried complaints, and a police culture that looked the other way. Badge of Betrayal blows open the true story of Senior Sergeant Paul Reynolds, the high-ranking Tasmanian officer who rose through the force while dark allegations swirled behind him. 

From the producers who brought you Our Little Edey, this series follows the threads others left untouched. As the walls close in, new leads emerge, connections surface, and the line between institutional failure and deliberate protection becomes disturbingly blurred. 

With whistleblowers breaking ranks, insiders exposing cover-ups, and victim-survivors finally being heard, Badge of Betrayal reveals how a man trusted with power was able to hide in plain sight for decades.

A senior cop. Decades of rumours. A trail of victim-survivors, buried complaints, and a police culture that looked the other way. Badge of Betrayal blows open the true story of Senior Sergeant Paul Reynolds, the high-ranking Tasmanian officer who rose through the force while dark allegations swirled behind him.&nbsp;
From the producers who brought you Our Little Edey, this series follows the threads others left untouched. As the walls close in, new leads emerge, connections surface, and the line between institutional failure and deliberate protection becomes disturbingly blurred.&nbsp;
With whistleblowers breaking ranks, insiders exposing cover-ups, and victim-survivors finally being heard, Badge of Betrayal reveals how a man trusted with power was able to hide in plain sight for decades.

With whistleblowers breaking ranks, insiders exposing cover-ups, and victim-survivors finally being heard, Badge of Betrayal reveals how a man trusted with power was able to hide in plain sight for decades.

Badge of Betrayal

A senior cop. Decades of rumours. A trail of victim-survivors, buried complaints and a police culture that looked the other way. Badge of Betrayal blows open the true story of Senior Sergeant Paul Reynolds the high-ranking Tasmanian officer who rose through the force while dark allegations swirled behind him. 

From the producers who brought you Our Little Edey, this series follows the threads others left untouched. As the walls close in, new leads emerge, connections surface, and the line between institutional failure and deliberate protection becomes disturbingly blurred. 

With whistleblowers breaking ranks, insiders exposing cover-ups, and victim-survivors finally being heard, Badge of Betrayal reveals how a man trusted with power was able to hide in plain sight for decades.

A senior cop. Decades of rumours. A trail of victim-survivors, buried complaints and a police culture that looked the other way. Badge of Betrayal blows open the true story of Senior Sergeant Paul Reynolds the high-ranking Tasmanian officer who rose through the force while dark allegations swirled behind him.&nbsp;
From the producers who brought you Our Little Edey, this series follows the threads others left untouched. As the walls close in, new leads emerge, connections surface, and the line between institutional failure and deliberate protection becomes disturbingly blurred.&nbsp;
With whistleblowers breaking ranks, insiders exposing cover-ups, and victim-survivors finally being heard, Badge of Betrayal reveals how a man trusted with power was able to hide in plain sight for decades.

The Three Memos from 2008 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/ecd15581-2300-46f8-8ac4-b44900454114/transcript

In this episode of Badge of Betrayal, we examine two deeply sensitive stories that raise the same uncomfortable question: what happens when the person accused is part of the system itself?

The episode begins with allegations involving “John”, a former police officer who later moved into another public-facing role within the Tasmanian system. Through internal documents, witness statements and a Direction 5 Code of Conduct process, we explore claims that were serious enough to raise questions about workplace conduct, accountability and whether warnings were properly handled.

Then, we look at Laura’s story, first reported by the ABC, involving allegations connected to a serving Tasmanian police officer, a family violence order later found to have no legal basis, and concerns about how complaints are handled when police are investigating one of their own.

 

In this episode of&nbsp;Badge of Betrayal, we examine two deeply sensitive stories that raise the same uncomfortable question: what happens when the person accused is part of the system itself?
The episode begins with allegations involving &ldquo;John&rdquo;, a former police officer who later moved into another public-facing role within the Tasmanian system. Through internal documents, witness statements and a Direction 5 Code of Conduct process, we explore claims that were serious enough to raise questions about workplace conduct, accountability and whether warnings were properly handled.
Then, we look at Laura&rsquo;s story, first reported by the ABC, involving allegations connected to a serving Tasmanian police officer, a family violence order later found to have no legal basis, and concerns about how complaints are handled when police are investigating one of their own.
&nbsp;

When Does the Badge Become a Shield?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/d1529239-5498-4a45-a9f5-b44300529d4f/transcript

***Trigger warning:
This episode contains discussions of child sexual abuse, grooming, trauma, sexualised behaviour toward minors, and suicide. It may be distressing for some listeners. Please take care while listening.

In this episode of Badge of Betrayal, we speak with Tasmania’s Independent Regulator, Louise Coe, about a serious gap in the state’s child safety oversight system.

The Office of the Independent Regulator was created to oversee organisations that work with children and young people, including how they respond to allegations of reportable conduct. But in August 2025, Tasmania Police told the regulator they had received legal advice that they were not captured by the scheme meaning they stopped providing key information, including the identities of police officers involved in reportable conduct matters.

For eight months, that gap remained.

Louise explains why independent oversight matters, why the reporting scheme exists, and why police interactions with vulnerable young people require close scrutiny. She also discusses the importance of backdating the law to cover the period where reporting stopped, and why culture change inside institutions is just as important as technical compliance.

Later in the episode, we share part of an anonymous email from another victim of Paul Reynolds.  The email includes graphic and deeply distressing details of alleged grooming, emotional manipulation and sexual abuse, and shows how hearing this podcast has helped some people reframe what happened to them.

If you have information that you would like to share, email us anonymously at podshape@proton.me

If this episode is triggering, please pause and seek support. 


Lifeline: 13 11 14 — https://www.lifeline.org.au


Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 — https://kidshelpline.com.au


1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732 — https://www.1800respect.org.au

 

***Trigger warning: This episode contains discussions of child sexual abuse, grooming, trauma, sexualised behaviour toward minors, and suicide. It may be distressing for some listeners. Please take care while listening.
In this episode of&nbsp;Badge of Betrayal, we speak with Tasmania&rsquo;s Independent Regulator, Louise Coe, about a serious gap in the state&rsquo;s child safety oversight system.
The Office of the Independent Regulator was created to oversee organisations that work with children and young people, including how they respond to allegations of reportable conduct. But in August 2025, Tasmania Police told the regulator they had received legal advice that they were not captured by the scheme meaning they stopped providing key information, including the identities of police officers involved in reportable conduct matters.
For eight months, that gap remained.
Louise explains why independent oversight matters, why the reporting scheme exists, and why police interactions with vulnerable young people require close scrutiny. She also discusses the importance of backdating the law to cover the period where reporting stopped, and why culture change inside institutions is just as important as technical compliance.
Later in the episode, we share part of an anonymous email from another victim of Paul Reynolds.&nbsp; The email includes graphic and deeply distressing details of alleged grooming, emotional manipulation and sexual abuse, and shows how hearing this podcast has helped some people reframe what happened to them.
If you have information that you would like to share, email us anonymously at <a href="mailto:podshape@proton.me">podshape@proton.me</a>
If this episode is triggering, please pause and seek support.&nbsp;
<ul data-start="1139" data-end="1515">
<li data-start="1139" data-end="1195">
Lifeline: 13 11 14 &mdash; <a href="https://www.lifeline.org.au" data-start="1166" data-end="1193">https://www.lifeline.org.au</a>
</li>
<li data-start="1196" data-end="1261">
Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 &mdash; <a href="https://kidshelpline.com.au" data-start="1232" data-end="1259">https://kidshelpline.com.au</a>
</li>
<li data-start="1262" data-end="1328">
1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732 &mdash; <a href="https://www.1800respect.org.au" data-start="1296" data-end="1326">https://www.1800respect.org.au</a>
</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;

The Regulator Speaks

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/02335084-641d-4b0d-8b43-b43c003ed067/transcript

***Trigger warning:
This episode contains discussions of child sexual abuse, grooming, trauma, sexualised behaviour toward minors, and suicide. It may be distressing for some listeners. Please take care while listening.

For years, it was brushed aside as banter. Something uncomfortable, but never fully spoken about.

In this episode, another former student comes forward to describe the influence Reynolds had over a tight-knit group of boys, and the behaviour they are only now, as adults, beginning to understand differently.

He speaks about grief, vulnerability, power, and the way trauma can shape a life long after childhood. He also reflects on why so many men stay silent, and what happens when that silence finally starts to break.

This is a confronting and deeply personal account of shame, silence, masculinity, and the long shadow of things left unsaid.

If you have information that you would like to share, email us anonymously at podshape@proton.me

If this episode is triggering, please pause and seek support. 


Lifeline: 13 11 14 — https://www.lifeline.org.au


Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 — https://kidshelpline.com.au


1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732 — https://www.1800respect.org.au

 

 

 

***Trigger warning: This episode contains discussions of child sexual abuse, grooming, trauma, sexualised behaviour toward minors, and suicide. It may be distressing for some listeners. Please take care while listening.
For years, it was brushed aside as banter. Something uncomfortable, but never fully spoken about.
In this episode, another former student comes forward to describe the influence Reynolds had over a tight-knit group of boys, and the behaviour they are only now, as adults, beginning to understand differently.
He speaks about grief, vulnerability, power, and the way trauma can shape a life long after childhood. He also reflects on why so many men stay silent, and what happens when that silence finally starts to break.
This is a confronting and deeply personal account of shame, silence, masculinity, and the long shadow of things left unsaid.
If you have information that you would like to share, email us anonymously at <a href="mailto:podshape@proton.me">podshape@proton.me</a>
If this episode is triggering, please pause and seek support.&nbsp;
<ul data-start="1139" data-end="1515">
<li data-start="1139" data-end="1195">
Lifeline: 13 11 14 &mdash; <a href="https://www.lifeline.org.au" data-start="1166" data-end="1193">https://www.lifeline.org.au</a>
</li>
<li data-start="1196" data-end="1261">
Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 &mdash; <a href="https://kidshelpline.com.au" data-start="1232" data-end="1259">https://kidshelpline.com.au</a>
</li>
<li data-start="1262" data-end="1328">
1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732 &mdash; <a href="https://www.1800respect.org.au" data-start="1296" data-end="1326">https://www.1800respect.org.au</a>
</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

The Silence Hides the Shame

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/ffd7fd9a-74bc-439c-9020-b4340174e698/transcript

The Three Memos from 2008

Badge of Betrayal

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Badge of Betrayal

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