Veteran cop who spoke out against police bosses over Zach Rolfe murder charge sacked

A veteran NT police officer who publicly spoke out against his bosses over their handling of Constable Zach Rolfe’s murder charge has been sacked.

Sergeant Mark Casey.

A veteran Northern Territory police officer who publicly spoke out against his bosses over their handling of Constable Zach Rolfe’s murder charge has been sacked after 10 months of “mental torture”.

Last April, Sergeant Mark Casey – who has served in the NT Police for 25 years – criticised police brass in an opinion piece for online news outlet NT Independent over their response to a fatal shooting at Yuendumu.

The first-person article detailed “concerns” he held about the actions and “integrity” of NT Police Force executive members, including Commissioner Jamie Chalker. “This concern relates to the authoritarian management as a whole and specifically in relation to the charging of Constable Zach Rolfe,” he wrote. “I have observed the events since the day of the shooting and have held my judgment until now as I feel that unless someone speaks up, there will be no change.

“It is time for someone to stand up and allow the discourse to happen, rather than sitting in fear, waiting for someone else to take action.”

In March 2022, Constable Rolfe was found not guilty of murdering Kumanjayi Walker at the remote outback community during an arrest in 2019.

The officer shot Walker three times after the Indigenous teen had stabbed him with scissors.

Sergeant Casey – a member of the digital forensic unit – said “there has been deception, dishonesty, or at the very least, mistruths” in relation to why Constable Rolfe was charged with murder four days after the shooting and before a thorough investigation into the incident had occurred.

The Darwin-born and bred sergeant, who spent most of his policing career investigating fatal crashes, had never worked with or met Constable Rolfe before penning his opinion piece.

Sergeant Casey questioned Mr Chalker’s public statement that he had been kept at “arm’s length” from the criminal investigation into the shooting.

“You are supposed to be the commissioner of police. You don’t get the option of keeping things at arm’s length or burying your head in the sand and blaming others,” he wrote.

The Darwin-based officer also accused senior police of running a “smear campaign” against Constable Rolfe.

Within hours of the piece being published, Sergeant Casey was suspended without pay for alleged “serious breaches of discipline” related to his “personal behaviour and public views”.

He was accused of improper conduct, personal use of social media and breach of the force’s code of conduct.

A few days later, after media attention and public backlash, his pay was reinstated but he remained suspended with 14 days to respond to the allegations.

Sergeant Casey responded in writing but Acting Superintendent Sonia Kennon was not satisfied with his explanation and an investigation followed, which found him guilty of the breaches.

At a directions hearing in Aug­ust, Sergeant Casey formally admitted to two of the three breaches. On Thursday, Assistant Commissioner Bruce Porter handed Sergeant Casey a notice of determination during a meeting at the office of the NT Police Association.

Commissioner Porter’s letter said that after considering a range of factors including Sergeant Casey’s responses, his length of service, the nature and seriousness of the breaches, medical reports and public interest issues, he had decided to dismiss him effective immediately.

He said Sergeant Casey had shown a “lack of remorse” and had not apologised for the “misinformation you caused to be published … Nor have you apologised for the discontent shown towards the commissioner and senior executives of the Northern Territory Police Force”.

He said Sergeant Casey’s conduct had caused “potential influence and harm” to police morale, attracted negative media attention, set a bad ­example and undermined public confidence in their agency.

Commissioner Porter said he also wanted to deter and discourage other members from emulating the conduct.

On Thursday, Sergeant Casey said he was “still in shock” at the outcome. “My understanding, until last week, was I was going to be demoted,” he said. “I expected consequences but not 10 months of mental torture and to then be dismissed without warning. I guess they need to make an example of me so no one else speaks out.”

Sergeant Casey said given his distinguished service, he expected an opportunity to resign.

“I’m very shocked at the outcome and extremely dis­appointed. To be suspended, left in limbo for 10 months, and then dismissed – with no opportunity to resign – seems malicious.

“It’s taken a huge toll.”

The second-generation NT cop – who worked within the Drugs and Organised Crime Command – said while he was devastated at losing his job, he did not regret writing the article.

“In the circumstances, I felt that was my only option and the right thing to do,” he said. “I’d reported unethical behaviour of executives in 2018, through the correct process, and I was disciplined for being disrespectful.

“I went to the media because my previous attempt to report wrongdoing through the proper channels was not effective.”

NTPA president Paul McCue said he was “appalled” at Sergeant Casey’s dismissal.

“Mr Casey was denied the opportunity to consider resigning from the NT Police Force, something that has previously been afforded to members who have admitted to committing serious breaches of internal discipline, or have committed criminal offences,” Mr McCue said.

“When you weigh up the seriousness of the matter outlined in Mr Casey’s breach, versus 25 years of dedicated service to the people of the Northern Territory, we would argue the treatment of Mr Casey, has been unreasonable.”

Mr McCue said Sergeant Casey was kept in limbo for too long awaiting an outcome.

“The breach relates to a matter from almost a year ago, and Mr Casey has been left sitting at home most of this time waiting for an outcome,” he said.

“That is hardly in line with the very public commitment of NT Police to improve the health and wellbeing of its members, and goes directly against the recommendations of the most recent review into the internal police disciplinary system.

“This is just one example of a clearly flawed discipline system, and we will continue to fully support Mr Casey as he considers his options.”

Sergeant Casey has 14 days to appeal his dismissal.