NT Police welfare coronial inquest to investigate the suicide of Michael ‘Micky D’ Deutrom

The failure to address the mental health scars impacting one of the Territory’s ‘greatest guardian angels’ will be investigated in an upcoming coronial inquest.

NT Police officer Michael ‘Micky D’ Deutrom, 44, took his own life on April 16, 2022.

The psychological scars from a lifetime of policing in the Northern Territory will be put under the microscope during a highly anticipated coronial inquest.

Coroner Elisabeth Armitage confirmed she would hold a five-day inquest in February investigating the death of NT Police Senior Constable First Class Michael ‘Micky D’ Deutrom.

The beloved cop was remembered as one of the Territory’s “greatest guardian angels” after the 44-year-old took his own life while staying in Adelaide on April 16, 2022.

Mr Deutrom was one of four police suicides over three months in 2022, sparking grief and anger at the time over an apparent delay in implementing an independent support and wellbeing service review.

NT Police officer Michael ‘Micky D’ Deutrom, 44, took his own life on April 16, 2022.

During his memorial, then-Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker pledged to Mr Deutrom’s grieving loved ones the review’s recommendations would be fully implemented.

“It is true that the social challenges we face place those of us who work in this agency at the front line and it can be relentless — It is relentless,” Mr Chalker said at the time.

“We must change, we will change.”

NT police held a moving memorial for a Michael Deutrom, who took his own life in April.

However the embattled police boss was hit with criticism from current and former officers, who said critical recommendations were not being implemented as quickly as they should.

Mr Deutrom’s death was the second police suicide that year and his death was soon followed by the suicide of mental health advocate and retired Senior Sergeant Garry Smith in May, followed by a 26-year-old Aboriginal Community Police Officer taking his own life a month later.

At the time of the young man’s suicide there was no dedicated welfare officer for the Alice Springs station.

NT Police officer Michael ‘Micky D’ Deutrom, 44, took his own life on April 16, 2022.

The Northern Territory Police Association said while the union supported the coronial inquest for Mr Deutrom, it called for all four suicides to be investigated.

President Nathan Finn said the welfare reforms were not keeping pace with the psychological toll of the front lines.

“The NTPFES Support and Wellbeing Section are still not adequately funded or resourced to deal with the growing number of members experiencing both physical and psychological injuries as part of their employment with the Northern Territory Police Force,” Mr Finn said.

“Major improvements are still required for the availability of services for our members.

“The provisions of these services are well overdue, and this will be highlighted within the upcoming coronial inquest.”

Northern Territory Police Association (NTPA) President Nathan Finn. Picture: Fia Walsh

A 2024 independent Police Review by former NTPA president Vince Kelly specifically highlighted the four suicides as one of the major “deeply traumatic organisational events that has shaped and driven” the NT Police Force.

The Kelly review recommended the department ensure its Wellbeing Strategy 2023-2027 implementation framework was in place, including an ongoing evaluation process.

It found while an additional $3m had been committed to the four-year wellbeing strategy, no implementation plan had been provided to staff.

Mr Kelly’s said less than half of Territory cops said they were satisfied with health and wellbeing policies and practices, while 55 per cent of police were burnt out.

NT Police Association boss Vince Kelly released his report into the police force in 2024.

Mr Kelly flagged some staff reported they were not contacted in a timely manner by the welfare teams following a traumatic incident, or there was an “insufficient” email or call follow-ups.

The review found the “unlimited sick leave” provisions were being used by officers to self-manage fatigue or as alternatives to workers’ compensation, but as a result “creates a vicious circle” of understaffing and overtime.

The review called for an urgent implementation of a fatigue management policy, saying without one the force was “compromised”.

A Police Department spokesman said the entire force continued to be incredibly saddened by the loss of Mr Deutrom, who was remembered as a “much loved officer”.

NT Police officer Michael ‘Micky D’ Deutrom, 44, took his own life on April 16, 2022.

“The health and wellbeing of our officers, along with investment into our wellbeing services and having a healthy workforce , remains a priority for the NT Police Force,” he said.

“The NTPF will be cooperating fully with the coronial inquest.”

The latest NT Police Annual Report found there was a significant drop in the number of mental stress injuries in 2023-24, with 13 officers lodging compensation claims compared to 32 in 2022-23.

Originally published as NT Police welfare coronial inquest to investigate the suicide of Michael ‘Micky D’ Deutrom