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. Cath talks us through the surreal hours that followed, the moment she learned Brett was gone, and what it’s like to carry survivor’s guilt, trauma, and intrusive memories long after the news crews moved on.
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. This is Brett’s story. And this is Part One of our tribute to a man who dedicated his life to protecting others and paid the ultimate price.
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