Confronting truth: NT Police admit racism existed in the Force after coroner’s scathing report into Kumanjayi Walker’s death

WARNING: This story contains the name and image of an Indigenous person who has died. The Northern Territory Police Force has acknowledged racism existed within the organisation a day after the Coroner handed down a scathing 600-page report into the death of a 19-year old Aboriginal teen. Kumanjayi Walker was shot dead by former constable Zachary Rolfe after he was stabbed on November 9, 2019. Coroner Elisabeth Armitage spent three years investigating Kumanjayi’s life and the events surrounding his death finding the “racist attitudes” of a constable attracted to “high-adrenaline policing” contributed to his death. She also found the NT Police Force was entrenched with institutional racism. Acting commissioner Martin Dole acknowledged the coroner’s findings accepting all forms of racism existed within the NT Police Force at various times. “This was borne out in the evidence received during this inquest that is confronting, but it is a truth that we must face, what was tolerated in the past will no longer be acceptable,” he said. “We are committed to stamping out racism in all its forms and making this a safer and fairer organisation for everybody.” Commissioner Dole said they would carefully consider 18 recommendations directed to the NT Police Force by the coroner. “We acknowledge the deep hurt that followed the events of the 9th November 2019 and the long inquest that followed,” he said. “I extend my sincere sympathy to Kumanjayi’s loved ones, and thank every witness and community member who contributed to the coroner’s findings. “These recommendations deserve to be considered properly, thoroughly and with the seriousness that they warrant. “Our response will take time, because it must be meaningful and enduring.” The commissioner said the NT Police force must listen, hear and act more closely with remote communities. “That includes seriously re-examining how we return to a meaningful version of community policing, one that reflects the needs and expectations of Aboriginal people and builds trust at a local level,” he said. “Our commitment is clear, lasting reform delivered transparently in partnership with Aboriginal communities. “Only then can we move forward together in truth, respect and genuine understanding.” Executive director Leanne Little said while the coroner’s findings were deeply confronting, they were not new to many Aboriginal people. She said what mattered now was how police responded to the findings. “The Northern Territory Police Force is not going backwards, we are moving forward and over the past 12 months, I’ve already seen meaningful change occur across the organisation,” she said. Ms Little is developing the Force’s first anti-racism strategy to eliminate discrimination across the organisation. “The coroner has made it clear, racism has existed in this organisation in all its forms,” she said. “What was tolerated in the past will no longer be acceptable, and that’s not just a statement, that is a commitment.” Ms Little said they would take any necessary actions to rebuild trust through sustained partnerships and culturally informed community policing. “I believe that we are on the right path,” she said. “The past cannot be undone, but the future is ours to shape. “This is not the end of a difficult process, it is a beginning of something far more important, lasting reform, shared respect and a police force that all Territorians can trust.” Coroner Armitage recommended that the NT Police make public and strengthen its anti-racism strategy in her report. She also recommended police create agreements with Yuendumu leaders to decide when it would be appropriate for police to carry firearms in the community. “NT Police Force must take steps through its training, supervision, culture and leadership to ensure racist attitudes do not develop and if they do, they are identified and corrected and are not tolerated or condoned,” Ms Armitage said. “To be clear, many of the police officers who gave evidence to the inquest impressed me as curious and culturally sensitive officers who dedicated their working lives to serving the largely Aboriginal communities they were tasked to police,” she said. “They were not racist. Even so, I found that racist language and actions were not confined to Mr Rolfe and this was not a case of one bad apple.”