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Badge of Betrayal

Podshape True Crime

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.

  1. EPISODE 1

    The Beginning of the Betrayal

    Senior Sergeant Paul Reynolds was a familiar face in Tasmanian policing  a mentor, a coach, a man people trusted. But on a quiet night in Westbury, everything shifted. Just hours after celebrating his wedding anniversary, four officers from Professional Standards knocked on his door with a warrant to seize his devices. The allegation: Reynolds was a pedophile. In this first episode, we unravel the final 24 hours of a highly decorated cop whose name later surfaced in the Weiss Inquiry, the coronial inquest, and the investigation into the death of 15-year-old Eden Westbrook. From whistleblowers to former colleagues who once admired him, the picture that emerges is darker than anyone imagined. This is the moment the cracks appear the night a respected officer became the centre of one of Tasmania’s most disturbing hidden histories. And as we dig, it becomes clear: what looked like the end of the story was only the beginning. if you have information that you would like to share, email us anonymously at podshape@proton.me If you’d like to hear episodes ad-free and early, subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts. If this episode has raised difficult feelings for you, support is available: 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   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    24 min

  2. EPISODE 2

    The Pattern Reveals Itself

    In this episode, we hear how Paul Reynolds embedded himself inside Launceston’s youth car scene  befriending young men, adding them on Facebook, and slowly shifting from friendly banter to explicit messages. Through Mike, a former friend who has never spoken publicly until now, we trace Reynolds’ grooming pattern step-by-step exactly as later exposed in the Weiss Report. As Mike remembers the late-night visits, the boundary-testing conversations, and the uneasy comments dismissed as “just banter,” the episode reveals how a senior police officer managed to present himself as a mate, a mentor, and a hero all while hiding a far darker intent. if you have information that you would like to share, email us anonymously at podshape@proton.me If you’d like to hear episodes ad-free and early, subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts. If this episode has raised difficult feelings for you, support is available: 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   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    35 min

  3. EPISODE 3

    An Insider Steps Forward

    In this episode, we sit down with “Tom,” a current serving senior Tasmanian police officer who risks his career to speak candidly about the culture inside Taspol. Across a covert, one-off meeting, Tom reveals why allegations of family violence, sexual misconduct, and predatory behavior inside the force are now “at epidemic levels,” and why systems meant to stop offenders like Paul Reynolds failed for decades. He walks us through internal cases never heard publicly, the politics behind the Wies Inquiry, and why he believes the truth about Reynolds and those who protected him still hasn’t fully surfaced. This chapter pulls back the curtain on the hidden pressures, the fear of breaking ranks, and the consequences faced by officers who dare to speak out. If you’d like to hear episodes ad-free and early, subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts. If this episode has raised difficult feelings for you, support is available: 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   If you have information that you would like to share, email us anonymously at podshape@proton.me See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    25 min

  4. EPISODE 4

    Friends in Dark Places

    In this episode, we hear from a current serving Tasmanian police officer a man who spent nearly his entire career working alongside Reynolds. Using a voice actor to protect his identity, he describes Reynolds as he knew him: the outgoing, blokey colleague who could charm a room of young men, the officer who became increasingly absent as he climbed the ranks, and the man whose behaviour now looks disturbingly like grooming hiding in plain sight. He also walks us into the world of Ashley Youth Detention Centre  the blind spots, the “cowboy” culture, the friendships between staff and Reynolds, and why he believes it is almost impossible that Reynolds never accessed the centre or its vulnerable boys. Alongside testimony from a whistleblower who worked inside Ashley, this chapter exposes the overlap between policing, youth detention, and community institutions that enabled Reynolds to move freely for decades. It raises the questions no one has been able to answer: who knew what, who looked away, and why so many of Reynolds’ behaviors were minimised or ignored. If you’d like to hear episodes ad-free and early, subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts. If you have information that you would like to share, email us anonymously at podshape@proton.me If this episode has raised difficult feelings for you, support is available: 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   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    34 min

  5. EPISODE 5

    The Money and the Lies

    ****A content warning before we begin: this episode contains references to suicide and suicidal ideation. Listener discretion is advised. Help is available below ******* In this episode, we uncover the hidden financial secrets of Paul Reynolds, from alleged theft from his own mother to casino withdrawals, gambling debts, and desperate pleas for fast cash just days before his death. As the timeline tightens, disturbing questions emerge about where the money went, who Reynolds was connected to, and what police knew and when. This chapter takes us through the night of the raid on Reynolds’ home, the procedural failures that followed, and the chilling final hours that ended his life, revealing a system riddled with missed opportunities and unanswered questions. If you have information that you would like to share, email us anonymously at podshape@proton.me If you’d like to hear episodes ad-free and early, subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts. If this episode has raised difficult feelings for you, support is available: 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 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    23 min

  6. EPISODE 6

    The Funeral Plans

    In this episode, we examine how Paul Reynolds’ police honours funeral was approved. Through Right to Information documents, we look at how the decision was made, who was involved, and what was known at the time. The episode also returns to the final sitting day in Parliament, where Dr Rosalie Woodruff raised further questions about unresolved issues surrounding Reynolds and the institutional response to his conduct before and after his death. Using official records and parliamentary proceedings, this episode continues our examination of how decisions were made and why key questions remain unanswered. This episode references extracts from official Right to Information documents and parliamentary proceedings. These materials are presented for context only. No wrongdoing is alleged If you have information that you would like to share, email us anonymously at podshape@proton.me If you’d like to hear episodes ad-free and early, subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts. If this episode has raised difficult feelings for you, support is available: 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   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    31 min

  7. EPISODE 7

    Seven Referrals...but what now?

    Seven referrals. Five known to police before 2024. Two still active. As insiders speak anonymously and integrity reforms are proposed, the question remains: does Tasmania need a Commission of Inquiry to uncover what still hasn’t been told? If you have information that you would like to share, email us anonymously at podshape@proton.me If you’d like to hear episodes ad-free and early, subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts. If this episode has raised difficult feelings for you, support is available: You can have your say on the Integrity Commission Amended Bill Proposal here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    22 min

  8. EPISODE 8

    Breaking The Silence

    Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of alleged child sexual abuse and institutional violence. Some content may be distressing. Listener discretion is advised. Support resources are listed in the show notes. In this episode of Badge of Betrayal, we return to Alysha, the whistleblower who helped expose abuse at Tasmania’s Ashley Youth Detention Centre. For the first time, we also hear from a former detainee, now an adult, who speaks anonymously about his experiences inside the centre. His voice has been altered and identifying details removed. This conversation was approached with care, expert guidance, and a clear public-interest purpose. It explores power, accountability, and the lasting impact of institutional failure  while centring the courage it takes to speak when silence once felt safer. 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 If you have information that you would like to share, email us anonymously at podshape@proton.me See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    41 min
See All Season 1 (14)

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About

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.

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