The coroner’s investigation found that the police who killed Indigenous teenager Kumanjayi Walker in 2019 were “racists” and “attractive” to adrenaline-style policing.
Walker, 19, was shot three times shortly after being arrested by police officer Zachary Rolfe during his arrest at a house in Yuendumu, a remote indigenous community in the Northern Territory (NT).
Rolfe – no longer a policeman – was charged with Walker’s murder and was acquitted in 2022, sparking protests about Indigenous death detention.
In publishing her findings, Judge Elisabeth Armitage said Walker’s death was “avoided” and that “there is clear evidence that there is deep-rooted, systematic and structural racism within the police force of NT”.
Judge Armitage summarized her findings (more than 600 pages) in an open-air speech in Yuendumu on Monday, about 300 kilometers (190 miles) northwest of Alice Springs on Monday.
She found that “Rolph is a racist, he works, and is a beneficiary of organizations with the hallmark of institutional racism.”
Rolf, she said, “is not a bad apple situation” and found that racist language and behavior was “normalized within the Alice Springs Police Department.”
She couldn’t “said Mr. Rolf’s racist attitude” that led to Walker’s death, but I can’t rule out that possibility”, but she told those who gathered in the speech, including members of Walker’s family.
Additionally, Judge Armitage found that Rolf’s “sarcastic attitude” towards female colleagues and some bosses and his “stigmatizing Bush police” might have affected his actions the day he shot Walker.
On November 9, 2019, Rolfe and another official arrived at Walker’s home in Yuendumu and arrested him for violating court orders.
Three days ago, police tried to arrest Walker, who threatened them with an axe.
Judge Armitage found that Walker was a “vulnerable teenager” with a history of trauma and “bad impulse control.”
During Rolfe’s Supreme Court trial in 2022, the court heard officials were involved in a melee with Walker about a minute after arriving at his home.
Walker stabbed Rolf in the shoulder with a pair of scissors, prompting Rolf to shoot him without warning – Rolf’s lawyer said it was self-defense. The prosecutor agreed.
A few seconds later, Rolfe fired two shots at Walker. Prosecutors believed it was not necessary, and the defense said it was because Rolf was concerned about the safety of his colleagues.
Judge Armitage found in her findings that Rolf made a series of “flawed decisions” that led to “the danger caused by the officer” – the police “unnecessarily put themselves in danger… creating a situation that proves the use of lethal force.”
She also said former soldier Rolfe found the fight “exciting” and “attracted Adrenaline policing.” Judge Armitage said he also overlooked Walker’s arrest plan, founded by a female officer, because he “thinks he knows better.”
After Walker was shot, police dragged him out of the house and took him to the police station, where he received first aid. He later died.
Judge Armitage said: “Procrastination is an act of disrespect and should not happen.”
She made 32 recommendations, including the development of a “mutual respect agreement” to limit police carrying guns in the Yuendumu community, and to publicly report on police anti-racism strategies to strengthen, target and openly publicly, and to publicly report compliance with its measures.
As she finished her one-hour speech, Judge Armitage thanked those who participated in the investigation and Walker’s family.
“I’m sorry for your huge losses,” she said.
Walker’s cousin, Samara Fernandez-Brown, said the report was “overwhelming” and the family would evaluate the recommendations, according to the ABC.
The New Testament police said in a statement that the investigation was a “long and painful journey for all participants.”
“It’s a tough road and we’re determined to make sure what we’ve learned isn’t lost,” said Acting Commissioner Martin Dole.
The coroner’s investigation into Walker’s death was initiated in 2022. Under New Testament law, all deaths in detention must be investigated. These findings are not legally binding.
