Cops commission external probe into executive over comments on Zach Rolfe’s return to duty

NT Police has refused to confirm whether a senior member of its executive is under investigation for misconduct relating to the return of Constable Zach Rolfe to active duty.

NT POLICE has refused to confirm whether a senior member of its executive is under investigation for misconduct relating to the return of Constable Zach Rolfe to active duty.

The NT News understands an external investigation has been commissioned to begin this month following claims the executive summarily ruled out any possibility of Constable Rolfe coming back to work for NT Police.

Const Rolfe was acquitted on all charges in the Supreme Court in March over the shooting death of Aboriginal teenager Kumanjayi Walker in Yuendumu in 2019.

It is understood Const Rolfe has now permanently returned to Darwin after being formally transferred from Alice Springs and plans to continue working as soon as he is cleared through an internal investigation.

In response to questions about the external probe, Assistant Commissioner Bruce Porter said any investigation was confidential.

“In line with our current practices we always maintain confidentiality on any report from the public for the purpose of the integrity of any investigation and for the wellbeing of the member,” he said.

Zach Rolfe has returned to Darwin.

It comes after officers were forced to remove a piece of roadside graffiti in Alice Springs threatening Const Rolfe with a spearing.

Member for Araluen Robyn Lambley said the graffiti which read, “spear Rolfe not spare Rolfe” was “inciting violence and divisive”.

“As soon as it was drawn to my attention I called the police and the council and I’m not sure what happened after that but within 24 hours it was gone,” she said.

But Ms Lambley said she did not think the message reflected the wider views of the Alice Springs community.

Graffiti in Alice Springs threatening to spear Constable Rolfe.

Mr Porter said while he would not comment on individual cases, “special considerations are made for individual members with unique circumstances” in regard to officer safety.

“NT Police have a duty of care to provide all officers the safest possible working environment,” he said.

Meanwhile in Darwin, a sign reading “Integrity matters, sack Chalker now” was also hastily removed from the intersection of McMillans Rd and the the Stuart Hwy.

In comments recently published in the police union newsletter, Const Rolfe said he would continue to “fight to get back to work” despite being “completely abandoned” by the force’s top brass.

“Since the actual shooting itself, up to my arrest and throughout the investigation, the NT (Police Association), (president) Paul McCue and its members have been side-by-side with me at each step, to the point where they were even sitting with me in the cell in the Darwin watch house,” he said.

”Integrity matters”.

“At a time when the organisation (not the workers on the ground, I know and am aware of the support I had the entire time from you cops on the street) completely abandoned me, the NTPA was always there for me.”