Yuendumu death to be fully investigated

NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker has assured the public the death of Kumanjayi Walker will be fully investigated

Jamie Chalker has been sworn in as the Northern Territory Police Commissioner. Picture: KATRINA BRIDGEFORD.

NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker has assured the public the death of Kumanjayi Walker would be fully investigated.

Mr Chalker fronted media just hours after being sworn in as the new commissioner on Monday.

He acknowledged it was a bittersweet moment for him as his first task was to address the 19-year-old’s death at the hands of police.

“My heart goes out the Warlpiri people,” he said.

“I know the pain and sorrow they are going through.”

“My thoughts are with the family, my thoughts are with everybody who knew the deceased and moreover from everybody from the police side as well as across the community who has been affected by this.”

He praised the efforts of senior Warlpiri elders who helped keep the community calm.

“We are hurting, the community is hurting, and we will try to re-establish the many years of the Warlpiri and police relationship,” he said.

Mr Chalker said the investigation would be independently monitored by Western Australian Police Assistant Commissioner Nick Anticich, who will lead the professional standards investigation, and the ICAC.

”This is a tragedy and everyone can be very reassured that we will investigate this fully on behalf of the coroner to ensure the outcome is subsequently available for public comment,” he said.

“This investigation will seek the truth. Everybody in the Territory can be assured of that.”