Northern Territory police chief Jamie Chalker asked to quit, Zach Rolfe also out

The Northern Territory government has asked Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker to resign, a day after Constable Zach Rolfe was informed his own job would be terminated.

NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker and Constable Zach Rolfe.

The Northern Territory Labor government has asked Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker to resign, a day after informing Constable Zach Rolfe his job would be terminated.

The government contacted Mr Chalker on Friday and indicated it has lost confidence in him.

It’s understood Mr Chalker has taken an indefinite period of leave but he is not expected to return to his position.

Deputy Commissioner Michael Murphy is expected to take on the role of acting commissioner while a recruitment process is undertaken to find a new commissioner.

Mr Chalker officially began in the job on November 9, 2019, just two days after Constable Rolfe fatally shot Kumanjayi Walker during a botched arrest attempt at Yuendumu.

Constable Rolfe was charged with Walker’s murder on November 13, but found not guilty by a jury in early 2022.

The decision to charge Constable Rolfe quickly angered many members of the NT Police Force.

A Northern Territory Police Association survey released last month showed more than 80 per cent of officers rated police morale as low or very low.

More than 97 per cent of respondents said there were not enough police to do the work being asked of them.

The Territory government has also been dealing with escalating levels of crime, particularly in Alice Springs.

Sources told Sky News during any one pay period between 400 and 600 officers were calling in sick.

Mr Chalker also headed the Territory government’s response to Covid-19 as the Territory Controller.

There’s been a mixed reaction to the news he has been asked to resign.

One close supporter said Mr Chalker had never had the chance to thrive in the role.

“He walked straight into Rolfe and then into Covid, now he’s gone,” the source said.

Others have welcomed his departure.

“The morale issue within NT Police was never going to be resolved with him in charged,” a source said.

Meanwhile 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’s understood the decision relates to an open letter attributed to Constable Rolfe that was published on Facebook and in other news outlets in February.

In the open letter Constable Rolfe complained about his treatment by police and the Territory judicial system.

He said the NT Police 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 referred to Walker in the letter and made statements about his past.

“Walker was a young man with a violent past who abused many in his community, including young girls and boys,” he wrote.

Constable Rolfe was sent the letter just a day before Commissioner Chalker was asked to resign.

Matt Cunningham is Sky News Northern Australia correspondent.