Behind the Badge: The remarkable & compelling true story of a boy from Egypt who became one of Australia's most senior police, for readers of THE G

by Nick Kaldas

The true story of one of Australia's top cops for readers of I CATCH KILLERS and THE GOOD COP




Nick Kaldas is a cop's cop. From investigating war criminals to taking down global drug operations, Kaldas has seen the worst humanity can offer. But he's also seen which human qualities can lead to greatness.

This is the compelling true story of an immigrant boy from Egypt who rose from beat cop to become one of the most senior police officers in Australia. During his time in the NSW police force, he was one of Australia's first Arab undercover cops, headed up both the Homicide and Gang Squad units, reformed the Counter Terrorism team and then became the Deputy Police Commissioner.

He has also faced down some of the toughest, most brutal criminal organisations in the world. In the Middle East, he was hand-picked by the United Nations to investigate the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri; investigate the illegal use of chemical weapons in Syria; and was the Director of Internal Oversight Services at UNRWA, the UN agency tasked with assisting Palestine refugees.

Having negotiated hostage situations, gained the trust of the Syrian secret police and chaired the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, Kaldas has learned a thing or two about resilience, courage and fortitude. In Behind the Badge, he describes the most challenging cases that have shaped him and reveals what it takes to stand up for what's right in the face of insurmountable opposition.

'The type of cop we all aspire to be.' GARY JUBELIN

'A glimpse of the personal cost of pursuing what is right.' MICK KEELTY, former Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police

'Kaldas's motto "I regret nothing" summarises this exciting new book.' LOUIS FREEH, former Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation

'Challenge, intrigue, high achievement, danger, pride, dogged determination and self-belief - it's all here and more.' SIR PAUL STEPHENSON QPM, former Commissioner of the London Metropolitan Police Service

Genres: True Crime, Biography, Autobiography

320 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 5, 2025

Reviews

[Sue Gerhardt Griffiths · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️s

An outstanding account of an immigrant's life, from facing prejudice to achieving great success.

Nick Kaldas is one of the good ones.



Audiobook via BorrowBox
Published by: ABC Audio
Read by Nick Kaldas
Duration: 8 hrs 6 min. 1.25x Speed

[Andrew McDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever since I have known of Nick Kaldas I have always admired his determination and courage. It is a shame that he was never appointed Commissioner of NSW Police. His would have been a great appointment. I thoroughly enjoyed reading his book and having visited Egypt I can relate to his love of his former country. As a child immigrant myself (not from Egypt) I am in awe of Nuck's achievements. Thank you Nick.

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Vibes: Real-Life Crime, Global Perspectives, Inspirational

- - -
Policing is a tough gig and Nick Kaldas is the definition of doing it with integrity, grit and purpose.

I hadn’t heard of Nick before reading this (not being from NSW), but after finishing his memoir there’s no chance I’ll forget him. The career he’s led, the lives he’s impacted and the sheer scope of his work from undercover ops to global counterterrorism was absolutely fascinating.

As a crime fiction fan, I knew the real-life inside scoop on policing would be interesting to me but Nick’s story really grabbed me. When a chapter has the title ‘a bag of human fingers’ it’s clear these true tales are going to be veryyy interesting!

I also unexpectedly loved the international crime and politics angle. Back in high school, I couldn’t quite wrap my head around International Studies but if they’d handed me this book, I might’ve actually paid attention. From global gangs to assassination plots, it was equal parts intense and eye opening.

But what stayed with me most from this story was Nick’s character. He stood strong through racism, internal betrayal and systemic failures and never lost sight of his values. That quiet strength and unwavering integrity elevated this beyond just a great memoir, it was a powerful reflection on leadership and doing the right thing.

I listened on audio and highly recommend this format. Nick’s deep and commanding voice was the perfect companion to such a layered, hard earned life story.

[Book Clubber · Rating 4 out of 5]

For someone who loves crime fiction, reading this true story of a boy from Egypt who rose up the police ranks to become one of Australia's most senior law enforcers was a different kind of thrill.
The adage 'Truth is stranger than fiction' popped into my mind several times as I was turning the pages, let me tell you! The crimes Nick Kaldas has worked on, both in uniform and undercover, and the experiences he has lived through range from bizarre to shocking. From investigating war criminals to taking down global drug rings, this is a fascinating and detailed account of an immigrant boy who worked his way up to the position of Deputy Police Commissioner in New South Wales. He has faced down some of the toughest criminals in the world, been hand-picked to investigate major cases in the Middle East, and headed up homicide and gang squad units. His resume of national and international roles is long and impressive. Even so, his career has not been without controversy. He writes candidly about being secretly targeted in a phone bugging scandal by a fellow senior ranking police official, and having his integrity come under fire in the conviction of a businessman for the murder of a politician.
To say this man is brave and resilient feels like an understatement. His tough character and sense of honour leaves an indelible impression.
To be honest, I'm not sure I would have picked this book up if it wasn't for the fact that Nick Kaldas and I share the same heritage (although unlike him, I was born in Australia), but I'm so glad I did. I absolutely loved it. An inspiring, captivating and enjoyable read that offers a glimpse into a world we usually only ever see through the lens of the news media.

[Connor Faughlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting and compelling look into a generational police officer. Through decades of experience and stories I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

Nick is as great as they come, the insight into his professional and personal life gave myself a greater understanding of the weight all officers must feel day to day. Great read! 3.5 stars

[Gen Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! A must for any Australian (or international) who has an interest in the workings of policing, and how we are involved on the international stage in counterterrorism etc.

I listened to the audiobook, and was absorbed!

[Nance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good man, made many good decisions, whether they were popular or not.

Boy, humans never stop killings each other, never will I guess. But for what purpose?

[Geraldine Ricci]

An excellent autobiography of an immigrant who overcame prejudice to maintain his own personal integrity and rise to the top of his career.

[Nicki Kendall · Rating 3 out of 5]

A true crime read about Nick Kaldas who rose up the police ranks to become one of Australia's most senior law enforcers. Nick tells us of his days working as both a uniformed officers and also as an Undercover officer and the cases he worked on were fascinating to hear more about from the perspective of the law enforcer. During his career he has investigated war criminals, global drug rings, also served internationally and worked his way up to the position of Deputy Police Commissioner in New South Wales. He has faced down some of the toughest criminals in the world, been hand-picked to investigate major cases in the Middle East, and headed up homicide and gang squad units. This was an interesting read to hear from his perspective and also to heard of the challenges to both his career and personal life he has encountered along the way. Well worth a read if you enjoy true crime or just enjoy reading a good memoir. #nickkaldas #abcbooks #truecrime #memoir #goodreads #getlitsy #fable #thestorygraph #tea_sipping_bookworm #bookqueen #bookstagram