‘Remember the oath’: NT police commissioner’s plea as Kumanjayi Walker tragedy divides community
The NT police commissioner has appealed to his officers after one was charged with murder.
Northern Territory police commissioner Jamie Chalker has appealed to his officers to “remember the oath” and maintain integrity and fairness amid a tragedy that has divided the community.
Respected constable Zach Rolfe has been charged with murder over the police shooting death of 19-year-old Aboriginal man Kumanjayi Walker in the outback community of Yuendumu on Saturday. Constable Rolfe intends to plead not guilty, according to NT Police Association president Paul McCue.
“My police force’s strength is only as strong as my weakest link,” Commissioner Chalker said.
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“I need all my officers to step to the fore, to trust one another, to trust in the process, to remember the oath that they took and the importance of integrity, ethics and fairness.
“Forget the hate … Hate should not have a place in the Northern Territory.
“The NT is renowned for how we support one another; for how we embrace one another in times of tragedy, and we have had many.
“Through every one of those tragedies, the members of the NT Police Fire and Emergency services have been there, running towards the trouble to protect you.”
Constable Rolfe, 28, has been suspended on full pay and was granted bail in an out-of-session local court hearing on Wednesday to appear next in Alice Springs on December 19.
It is alleged that Constable Rolfe shot Walker at a residence in Yuendumu on Saturday.
He and another officer had come to the community of roughly 1000 people living 300km northwest of Alice Springs to arrest Walker for offences related to the breach of a suspended sentence.
Police have claimed Walker “lunged” at the two officers and injured one before the shooting, but eyewitnesses have disputed that account.
The North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency responded to the news with a statement claiming allegations of police misconduct were too often dismissed.
“NAAJA has for many years challenged allegations of police misconduct, which has far too often been dismissed,” the statement said.
“It is a tragedy that it has taken the death of Walker for police brutality to finally be properly scrutinised.”
The NAAJA statement said justice for Aboriginal people would “remain an issue until racism is acknowledged, confronted and addressed across our nation”.
“The people of Yuendumu have demonstrated great dignity and resilience throughout these heartbreaking events,” the statement said.
“It is of vital importance that this murder charge now properly proceed through the criminal justice system.”
Walker was taken to the police station but was unable to receive proper medical treatment because clinic staff had left the community earlier in the day. He died within two hours of being shot.
Constable Rolfe, who joined the police in 2016, received bravery medals for rescuing two tourists swept into floodwaters days after he graduated from police college. It is understood he also had a celebrated army career.
Following the announcement of the murder charge, NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner said: “All members of our police force serve us day in, night out, keep us safe and often put themselves in harm’s way. They will be hurting and will need your support. We also have many people in Yuendumu and around the Territory who are hurting and grieving.”
The NT Police Association said it was “continuing to support our member who has this evening been charged with murder, as well as his family, and all other officers involved in the critical incident at Yuendumu on Saturday, 9 November”.
The NTPA said Constable Rolfe was being offered legal advice.
The incident is now the subject of investigations involving NT Police, the NT Coroner, the NT Ombudsman, the NT Independent Commission Against Corruption and a police professional standards body.
Thousands of people rallied in every state and territory on Wednesday in the wake of Walker’s death.
Hundreds of people attended a rally held in Melbourne’s Bourke Street Mall.
Protests also took place outside parliaments in Canberra, Darwin, Perth and Adelaide, while rallies took place outside Sydney Town Hall. There was also a silent rally at the Finke River Store in the Northern Territory regional community of Ntaria, also known as Hermannsburg. Since Walker’s death, there have been protests in Yuendumu, Alice Springs and in other central desert communities, including Lajamanu, Tennant Creek and Pukatja.
Warlpiri elder Ned Jampinjimpa Hargraves said the death of the 19-year-old had shattered the Yuendumu community. “The police are saying they serve and protect but they are murdering our young people,” he said. “We can’t trust living in this place anymore. Yuendumu isn’t the same today. The police are still driving around here and are armed. We can’t be safe.”
Yuendumu Health Centre workers were evacuated earlier on Saturday due to safety concerns. The Royal Flying Doctor Service also delayed its response amid safety concerns.
Warlpiri woman Valerie Napaljarri Martin said: “We need truth and justice. We aren’t running around with weapons. We want justice.”
Alice Springs councillor Jacinta Price, a Warlpiri woman and an aunt of Walker, has supported calls for an inquiry while pleading for calm as the incident is investigated.
In #Adelaide on #KaurnaLand.#IstandwithWarlpiri #SolidaritywithYuendumu #JusticeForWalker pic.twitter.com/Krhduxu4p1
— Amy Patterson (@justanotheramy) November 13, 2019
Protesters in Darwin have marched to Parliament House, which is being guarded by police. Chants of #JusticeForWalker pic.twitter.com/lCULUX9Rc2
— Jacqueline Breen (@Jacqueline_E_B) November 13, 2019
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SolidaritywithYuendumu?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SolidaritywithYuendumu #JusticeForWalker #IStandWithYuendumu #YapaLivesMatter #BlakLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/KO7cQxMgFh
— NATSILS (@NATSILS_) November 13, 2019
Protesters are calling for an independent investigation, 24-hour medical staffing for Yuendumu, the removal of police, and funding for funerals.
Hundreds of members of the Yuendumu community on Tuesday performed a mourning ceremony at the police station. They covered the outside of the building with red handprints.
The last known fatal police shooting to attract significant national attention was the killing of Robert Jongmin by then senior constable Robert Whittington at Wadeye in 2002.
Mr Whittington was initially charged with murder, but this was later downgraded.
He was never found guilty or convicted of any criminal wrongdoing and most recently reportedly held the rank of sergeant at Katherine.
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