Zach Rolfe apology: ‘Racist’ texts were ‘playground language’ that ‘meant nothing’
NT Police’s top brass have told Zach Rolfe they intend to ‘medically retire’ him due to ‘mental health’, despite a psychiatrist clearing him to return to work, the acquitted officer claims.
Northern Territory
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Zach Rolfe has defended “racist” text messages he sent to NT Police colleagues as “playground language”, while claiming their public release by the Territory Coroner had “hurt the community”.
Constable Rolfe flew out of Australia this week just days before an inquest into the death of Kumanjayi Walker was due to resume in Alice Springs on Monday.
He was acquitted on all charges in March last year after shooting the 19-year-old Warlpiri-Luritja man three times during a bungled arrest in Yuendumu in 2019.
Despite taking a fight to avoid answering questions at the inquest about the shooting and the text messages to the highest level of the Territory’s legal system, Constable Rolfe released a 2500-word defence of his actions before he left.
In it, Constable Rolfe said he was “a good cop” and apologised for using “rude and racist terms”, but argued they “meant nothing” because “words only mean what the person using them or hearing them puts a value on them”.
“If I were to insult you in a language you didn’t understand, it would be meaningless to you; you don’t get to choose what meaning someone else puts on the words they use,” he said.
“Despite my language, and my potential to be rude, I have risked my life for strangers multiple times; if anyone was in danger, I would put myself between them and that danger to protect them.
“I was raised believing that actions were more important than words, but this does not seem to be the case for others.”
Constable Rolfe said he was only thinking about defending his partner’s life when he shot Mr Walker, claiming that outside the Territory he “would have got a medal for it, and none of you would ever have known my name”.
Constable Rolfe also took aim at NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker, claiming the force was “broken”.
“This is your legacy Commissioner Chalker,” he claimed.
“If you cared about the NT police and loved the community you’re supposed to serve, you would leave right now and never take any public office again,” he said.
“The community want to be safe again, and the police want to be supported in making people safe again.”
Constable Rolfe also claimed NT Police had “decided that they will attempt to medically retire me due to ‘mental health’”, while Mr Chalker had refused to meet with him to discuss the issue.
“I was directed to attend an independent medical exam with a psychiatrist; the psych reported that I have no diagnosable issues, he believes I am right to return to work with a supported return to work plan,” he said.
“The executive has refused to offer that plan and instead has served me with notice of their intent.”
In response, an NT Police spokeswoman said the force remained “respectful of the coronial process and will continue to do so”.
“There has been significant evidence already provided to the inquest by police, including about improvements within the agency since November 2019, and further witnesses are due to appear as we continue our co-operation with the process,” she said.
Constable Rolfe is currently due to return to the witness box in July.
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Originally published as Zach Rolfe apology: ‘Racist’ texts were ‘playground language’ that ‘meant nothing’
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