Rotary Darwin Police Officer of the Year award axed by NT Police after Zach Rolfe nominations

NT Police have ended a 30-year association with the Rotary Club of Darwin’s Police Officer of the Year Award after Constable Zach Rolfe was put forward as a possible recipient.

NT POLICE have ended a 30-year association with the Rotary Club of Darwin’s Police Officer of the Year Award after Constable Zach Rolfe was put forward as a possible recipient.

Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker wrote to the club earlier this year to inform it police would no longer be supporting the award.

Rotary Club of Darwin president Paul Simon said it was disappointing police had decided to withdraw support for the award, which has been running since 1991.

“There was no consultation which is probably the most disappointing part,” he said.

The award sees members of the public submit nominations before three possible recipients are sent to the Police Commissioner for vetting.

Mr Simon said Constable Rolfe was one of three officers put forward last year — while still facing a murder charge — after receiving “literally hundreds of nominations” from the public.

“We did receive a significant number of nominations for Zachary and whilst we understood there was a court case pending, given the significant number we had we still presented that nomination to the Police Commissioner for review and we were advised that nomination could not proceed,” he said.

“There was a message that needed to be sent, not by us, but by the public and we would be remiss not to put that forward.”

Mr Simon said he did not know if the Commissioner’s decision to withdraw his support for the award was linked to Constable Rolfe’s nomination.

“I’ll let others speculate on that,” he said.

“I think it’s disappointing.

“We were fully prepared to proceed this year for the 31st year and to be advised we were to no longer be supported was a shock.”

Mr Simon said his club wanted to make it clear it was not its decision to end the award and that “our support for the Police, Fire and Emergency Services remains resolute”.

NT Police did not directly respond to a question about whether Constable Rolfe’s nomination had prompted its decision to withdraw its support.

“The Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services are reviewing the honours and awards structure,” a spokesman said in a statement.

“We thank the organisations that have been involved in the annual awards recognising NTPFES members for their work in the community during the nominated period each year.

“We look forward to completing the review and giving the community to opportunity to recognise our members.”

Alice Springs police officer Senior Constable Brodie Anderson was named the 2021 Rotary Club of Darwin NT Police Officer of the Year.