This cop had no memory of his alleged abuse, until he was trained to spot it
Graeme Simpfendorfer, a former detective sergeant, experienced a profound emotional reaction during a police training session on child sexual abuse. The discussion about grooming tactics triggered memories of his own childhood abuse, which he had suppressed for years. This revelation led him to seek help and confront his past.
- ▪Graeme Simpfendorfer served 27 years in the Victoria Police, leading elite squads in Homicide and Sexual Offences.
- ▪During a training session, he recalled his own childhood abuse after hearing about grooming tactics used by predators.
- ▪Simpfendorfer's emotional breakdown prompted him to seek help and address his past experiences.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","dateModified":"2026-05-25T01:23:38Z","datePublished":"2026-05-25T01:23:38Z","description":"An experienced police officer was learning about the grooming tactics of child sexual predators. When they mentioned tickling, he froze.","headline":"This cop had no memory of his alleged abuse, until he was trained to spot it","keywords":"Child abuse, Mental health, The Morning Edition podcast, Police, Sexual assault","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Samantha Selinger-Morris","jobTitle":"Morning Edition podcast…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Sydney Morning Herald.