NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy reverses demotion of Alice Springs Sergeant who shared a topless photo of an Aboriginal woman

NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy admitted to reversing disciplinary action against a senior Alice Springs cop who shared a photo of a topless Aboriginal woman in a group chat.

The Northern Territory Police Commissioner was allegedly ‘lobbied’ to reinstate a senior Alice Springs cop who shared “racist and misogynistic” photos of a topless Aboriginal woman.

On Monday, NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy revealed to a coronial inquest into domestic violence that he had reversed a demotion of an Alice Springs Sergeant who was reported for “racist and misogynistic behaviour” in 2022.

Mr Murphy confirmed the senior cop had shared a photo of a topless Aboriginal woman in a public place on a social media messenger service to other officers.

The coronial heard the image sparked racist and “toxic” jokes by others in the group, with one of the officers reporting their concerns over the messages.

An investigation into the incident by the Professional Standards Command resulted in disciplinary action against the sergeant a year later, calling for him to be demoted and transferred to Katherine.

North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency barrister Phillip Boulten said the commissioner was then “lobbied” by the Northern Territory Police Association to reverse the disciplinary action.

Mr Murphy confirmed he was contacted by NTPA, which argued it was a “disproportionate outcome” given the transfer to Katherine would impact the officer’s family.

Coroner Elizabeth Armitage gave a big sigh when Mr Murphy confirmed he made the decision to “rescind” that disciplinary notice and instead transferred the cop to Darwin.

“In all honesty he would have gone on sick leave, and then we would have lost an officer,” the Commissioner said.

Rather than a demotion and transfer to a smaller station, Mr Murphy said the sergeant was placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond. 

Counsel assisting the coroner Peggy Dwyer said not only did he remain in his senior position, but was currently in an acting Senior Sergeant role while in Darwin.

Dr Dwyer raised concerns the incident “mirrored” other inquests where sergeants were sharing and “effectively sanctioning racist language and racist phrases”.

She grilled the commissioner over a potential “culture of misusing sick leave” to avoid “managerial action” and disciplinary procedures.

Dr Dwyer said another inquest had revealed “jokes” made by officers that “if disciplinary action was threatened, you just go off on leave”.

A recent NT Police Review found $2.5m of the $17m in police overtime spending was due to the absence of a member on sick leave.

Mr Murphy said the ‘unlimited sick leave’ provisions were on the negotiation table ahead of upcoming Enterprise Bargaining Agreements as a result of the findings of the Police Review.

Dr Dwyer asked Mr Murphy if the NT Police force was ready to address racism within the force, if it meant losing cops on the front line.

Mr Murphy said “in hindsight” he would not have reversed this officer’s demotion, saying his “threshold” for racism was much lower.

Despite a series of scandals within the Police, Mr Murphy has previously publicly stated he has not witnessed racism while visiting Alice Springs and other stations.

On the coronial stand Mr Murphy maintained while there were policies that needed to change: “The police force is not an organisation that is racist”.

“But there are pockets of people who have conducted themselves in the past, who are currently under investigation by the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption and our Professional Standards Command,” he said.

NTPA President Nathan Finn was asked for comment, but said the union “does not comment on individual matters involving our members”.

Originally published as NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy reverses demotion of Alice Springs Sergeant who shared a topless photo of an Aboriginal woman