Police Commissioner criticizes ‘disgraceful’ certificates

The Northern Territory’s top police officer is furious over racist awards allegedly given out by the elite tactical response unit. Former constable Zachary Rolfe presented certificates during an inquest into the death of Kumanjayi Walker to illustrate the force’s culture of racism. Rolfe shot Walker, 19, while he resisted being handcuffed with a pair of scissors in 2019. Despite being acquitted of murder, Rolfe’s certificates aimed to prove that racist awards were given at Northern Territory Police Christmas parties. Coroner Elisabeth Armitage unveiled three certificates, depicting a disrespectful tone towards Indigenous Australians.

The first certificate from 2013 features the Aboriginal flag, the Territory Response Group logo, and a disturbing statement about rape. The second from 2012 shows the TRG logo and an image of a police rescue vehicle chasing Usain Bolt with a derogatory message. The final 2012 award exhibits a naked man and a woman in revealing clothing with an offensive comment about the lack of excellence in cooking sausages. Commissioner Michael Murphy condemned the certificates, vowing to investigate and eradicate such behavior within the force. The revelation has sparked outrage and calls for immediate action to address the underlying issues of racism within the Northern Territory Police.

While the certificates have not been officially verified, Commissioner Murphy is treating them as authentic and has initiated an internal investigation with the ICAC. He expressed his distaste for the culture displayed in the awards and stressed the need to create a safe and culturally competent environment within the police force. Chief Minister Eva Lawler and Police Minister Brent Potter also denounced the awards, promising to address the issue promptly. The NT Police lawyer, Ian Freckelton, presented statements from senior officers denying the existence of such awards, claiming that the title was fabricated and not connected to Indigenous people.

Despite the denials from senior officers, Rolfe’s lawyers produced certificates allegedly from the recipients of the racist award during the inquest. Rolfe requested to keep the officers’ identities confidential and shared them with the lawyers. A successful application was made to prevent the media from publishing the images of the awards until further investigations were conducted. The revelation of the racist awards has brought attention to the need for systemic changes within the Northern Territory Police to combat racism and ensure a culturally safe working environment for all officers, especially Indigenous Australians. The incident has highlighted the importance of taking immediate and decisive action to address and rectify discriminatory practices within the force.