Zachary Rolfe is appealing against dismissal by NT Police after the shooting of Kumanjayi Walker
Officer who shot Indigenous teenager during an outback arrest to appeal his dismissal by the NT Police Force
- Zachary Rolfe shot Kumanjayi Walker in a remote community
- In 2022 Mr Rolfe was found not guilty of the murder of Mr Walker
A cop who fatally shot an Indigenous teenager during an outback arrest is appealing his dismissal from the Northern Territory Police Force.
Zachary Rolfe shot Kumanjayi Walker, 19, three times in the remote community of Yuendumu, northwest of Alice Springs, on Nov. 9, 2019.
Mr Rolfe was found not guilty of Mr Walker’s murder after a high-profile five-week trial in 2022.
He later became the subject of a wide-ranging inquiry into Mr Walker’s death, who was told that Mr Rolfe had previously received notice of his intention to remove him from his service.
Mr Rolfe’s lawyer, Luke Officer, confirmed on Wednesday that his client would appeal the decision to dismiss him.
Zachary Rolfe (pictured) shot Kumanjayi Walker, 19, three times in the remote community of Yuendumu, northwest of Alice Springs, on Nov. 9, 2019
“Constable Rolfe’s intent is to … exercise all legal options available to him, challenge the validity of the decision, the inability to provide fairness and the process by which it was made, the legality of the decision, and also the merits of the decision,” he said in a statement.
On Tuesday, the NT police confirmed that it had fired Mr Rolfe for breach of discipline.
“A 31-year-old male police officer has been discharged from the Northern Territory Police Force effective April 4, 2023,” a spokeswoman said.
“The officer was dismissed under section 78 of the Police Administration Act 1978 for serious breaches of discipline during their police career.”
In March, NT Police Assistant Commissioner Bruce Porter told the Inquiry about the force’s intent to retire Mr Rolfe based on psychological and risk assessments.
Zachary Rolfe was found not guilty of the murder of Kumanjayi Walker (pictured) after a high-profile five-week trial in 2022
“We felt that he was incapable of continuing as a member of the police force,” he told the inquest.
The police are under pressure because of Mr Rolfe’s dismissal.
Prime Minister Natasha Fyles is expected to hold a press conference following speculation that Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker may be fired.
The NT police union, which had previously funded Mr Rolfe’s legal costs, criticized the police’s decision.
“The impact November 9, 2019 has had on him and many involved has been difficult to fathom,” said Paul McCue, president of the NT Police Association.
“To be dismissed from the NT Police Force under these circumstances again points to deficiencies in the police’s disciplinary processes.”
Mr Rolfe has been on personal leave since August 2022.
Former Northern Territory Police Constable Zachary Rolfe (pictured) is appealing his dismissal from the force
He left Australia in February after writing a 2,500 word open letter defending his character and criticizing NT Police and its commissioner for the way they had handled the inquest.
“The corona focus is still on me rather than areas that can improve the conditions of the NT,” he wrote in the letter posted on the “I support Zach Rolfe” Facebook page.
Mr Porter had told the inquest that the police had sent Mr Rolfe a message regarding what he had written.
The inquest will resume later this year when Mr Rolfe is due to testify, pending the outcome of his appeal against an earlier Supreme Court decision that he could be forced to take the stand.