‘Black Monopoly’ TRG email adds to NT Police racism scandal after ‘c--n of the year’ claims

A ‘Black Monopoly’ email purportedly circulated among members of NT Police’s elite Territory Response Group is the latest revelation in a growing racism scandal engulfing the force.

A 'Black Monopoly' board purportedly distributed among members of NT Police's elite Territory Response Group as a joke.

A “Black Monopoly” joke email purportedly circulated among members of NT Police’s elite Territory Response Group is the latest revelation in a growing racism scandal engulfing the embattled force.

The email from 2008 seen by the NT News and addressed to “TRG Members” with the subject line “Indigenous monopoly” reads “this is gold” and features a mocked up “Black Monopoly” board on which every square is marked “go to jail”.

The revelation comes amid a joint investigation by NT Police and the Territory’s Independent Commissioner Against Corruption into racist “nuggadah” awards handed out to members of the TRG for a lack of intelligence or personal hygiene. The investigation remains ongoing and no action has been taken.

The investigation was prompted by evidence given by former constable Zach Rolfe at an inquest into the death of Kumanjayi Walker in February in which he testified that the awards were known as the “c--n of the year award”. Mr Rolfe was never a member of the TRG.

One of the infamous ‘nuggadah’ award certificates tendered at the inquest.

In response to Mr Rolfe’s testimony, long serving TRG member Sergeant Meacham King, who joined the unit in 2003, said in a statutory declaration to the inquest there was “no such award and never has been”.

Meanwhile current officer in charge of the TRG Senior Sergeant Mark Clemmens told the Coroner “I uphold a culture of high performance and wellbeing, respect, equity and professionalism”.

Sergeant King was a member of the TRG in 2008 while Sergeant Clemmens was not but there is no suggestion either man sent the email in question.

“I would not tolerate such an abhorrent award or the use of such racist language,” he said.

“The TRG is not racist. Systemic racism does not exist in the TRG.”.

Sergeant Clemmens said following a review he conducted after taking the helm in 2021, the award had been renamed to the Voldemort award “due to what we regarded as the potential that the made up name could be perceived or construed as derogatory or racist”.

“However, prior to this close analysis, it simply did not occur to me it could be perceived or construed in such a way,” he said.

Zach Rolfe arrives at the Alice Springs Local Court in March for an inquest into the death of Kumanjayi Walker. Picture: Jason Walls

Sergeant Clemmens said he had been “disgusted” to hear Mr Rolfe’s allegations.

“I knew almost instantly that as an agency we were unlikely to be able to refute the claim immediately due to the coronial process and as such our work unit would be branded racist and unprofessional,” he said.

“All our prodigious work of serving and protecting our community, including within remote communities, and our reputation as a high performing tactical unit would be tarnished and our professionalism questioned.”

Police Commissioner Michael Murphy has since said while he had not verified the “absolutely disgraceful and abhorrent” award certificates featuring an Aboriginal flag he was “taking them as true”.

An NT Police spokeswoman said “racism in any form is abhorrent and unacceptable” and the force was “deeply committed to maintaining the public’s trust”.

“There is a current investigation, led by the ICAC, of the allegations and NT Police is working with the ICAC, to ensure a comprehensive and impartial examination of the circumstances surrounding the claims,” she said.

“Any evidence relative to the current investigation surrounding racism within the NT Police should be submitted to the ICAC.”

NT Police Association president Nathan Finn said racism has “no place in the NT Police force” and made “a tough job even tougher”.

“Racism, in any form, is completely unacceptable and condemned in the strongest terms.

“Our workforce is impacted, our connections with the community are strained, and our commitment to the public is questioned.

“We anticipate this material may form part of the ongoing investigation by the ICAC and the NT Police force professional standards command”.