Zachary Rolfe has officially been dismissed from the Northern Territory Police Force, a spokesperson has confirmed.
WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains the name of a person who has died, used with the permission of their family.
Key points:
Zachary Rolfe has been issued a formal notice of dismissal by the NT Police Force
The ABC understands the dismissal is related to a 2,500-word statement attributed to Mr Rolfe
Mr Rolfe shot Indigenous man Kumanjayi Walker in November 2019 and has been acquitted of all related charges
The ABC reported on Sunday the former officer's lawyers had been issued a 'section 78' dismissal notice late last week, but the NT Police's media manager said Mr Rolfe remained a serving member of the force.
The NT Police Force has now confirmed Mr Rolfe is no longer a serving member.
“A 31-year-old male police officer has been dismissed from the Northern Territory Police Force effective 4th April 2023,” a statement from the NT Police Force said.
“The officer was dismissed under section 78 of the Police Administration Act 1978 due to serious breaches of discipline during their policing career.”
The former constable was acquitted last year of murder in relation to the 2019 shooting death of Warlpiri-Luritja man Kumanjayi Walker in the remote Indigenous community of Yuendumu.
Sources have told the ABC the dismissal relates to a 2,500-word statement published online in February, attributed to Mr Rolfe.
The statement was critical of the NT Police executive leadership and the ongoing coronial inquest into the shooting death of 19-year-old Warlpiri Luritja man Kumanjayi Walker.
Then-constable Rolfe fatally shot Mr Walker during an attempt to arrest him in the remote central Australian community of Yuendumu, 300 kilometres north-west of Alice Springs, in November 2019.
Days later, Mr Rolfe was charged with murder, but was acquitted after a Supreme Court trial in March last year.
The jury heard he acted in good faith, in the reasonable performance of his duties and in the defence of himself and his policing partner when he fired his Glock three times, after Mr Walker stabbed him in the shoulder with a pair of scissors.
There is no suggestion Mr Rolfe's dismissal is related to events on the night Mr Walker was shot.
Under the Police Administration Act, a section 78 dismissal notice relates to a "public interest dismissal."
The legislation says "a member may be immediately dismissed from the Police Force" if the commissioner is "of the opinion that the member has committed a breach of discipline and it is in the public interest that the member be immediately dismissed".
It also says the commissioner must have "taken into account any written response of the member made after service on the member of a notice under section 79".
The coroner heard in March that a section 79 disciplinary notice had been issued to Mr Rolfe by Assistant Police Commissioner and head of Professional Standards Command Bruce Porter in relation to the 2,500 word statement, which Assistant Commissioner Porter labelled an "opinion piece" at the time.
It remains open to Mr Rolfe to lodge an appeal of his dismissal.
Mr Rolfe's father, Richard Rolfe, told the ABC his son intends to appeal the decision to dismiss him, but did not say on what grounds.
Mr Rolfe's lawyer, Luke Officer, was contacted for comment.
https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiUmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIzLTA0LTA0L3phY2hhcnktcm9sZmUtbnQtcG9saWNlLWRpc21pc3NhbC8xMDIxODYyODTSAShodHRwczovL2FtcC5hYmMubmV0LmF1L2FydGljbGUvMTAyMTg2Mjg0?oc=5
2023-04-04 07:27:30Z
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