NT Police tell Zach Rolfe they intend to sack him
Controversial police officer Zach Rolfe could be set to lose his job after Northern Territory Police wrote to his lawyers informing them he would be sacked. Read the exclusive story here.
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Northern Territory Police have told Constable Zachary Rolfe they intend to sack him from the police force.
Sources have confirmed Constable Rolfe’s lawyers were sent a letter on Thursday saying they intended to terminate his position.
He has been given two weeks to respond.
It is understood the decision relates to an open letter attributed to Constable Rolfe that was published on Facebook and in other news outlets in February.
Constable Rolfe shot dead Warlpiri man Kumanjayi Walker during a botched arrest attempt at Yuendumu on November 9, 2019.
He was charged with Walker’s murder four days later but found not guilty by a jury in early 2022.
In the open letter Constable Rolfe complained about his treatment by police and the Northern Territory judicial system.
He said the NT Police Force had wasted millions of dollars on disciplining him rather than giving him a medal.
“Despite this, the coronial focus is still on me rather than on areas that could improve the circumstances of the NT,” he wrote.
He also sought to explain a series of texts in which he used derogatory terms towards Indigenous people, calling it “playground” language.
“I have used rude and racist terms regarding nearly every race, most often my own,” he said.
Constable Rolfe was sent the letter just a day before the Northern Territory Government asked Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker to resign, saying they had lost confidence in him.
NT Police head of media and communications Margaret McKeown said on Sunday Mr Rolfe was still a serving police member.
“We have no new updates,” she said.
“There’s a lot of information that goes between lawyers and things like that.”
Matt Cunningham is the Darwin Bureau chief and Northern Australia correspondent for Sky News
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