NT Police Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Jamie Chalker and his executive team are “devoid of integrity” and he should be stood down by the Police Minister immediately, says the union representing NT firefighters.

The integrity of Mr Chalker’s office has again been raised after the NT Independent revealed on Monday that internal documents obtained through Freedom of Information laws showed Mr Chalker’s media team lied to a firefighter about the existence of a recording of the commissioner’s controversial speech to firefighting recruits.

United Workers NT branch secretary Erina Early said the emails revealed in the article showed there was a massive failure in Mr Chalker’s office.

“Chalker and the executive are devoid of integrity,” she said.

“The Minister [Kate Worden] needs to think carefully about her trust in this executive not to expose the government to further ridicule.”

Constable Zach Rolfe’s father Richard Rolfe also weighed in on the matter, sharing an open letter that he sent to Police Minister Kate Worden on the NT Independent’s Facebook page and other social media sites on Monday, calling for her to remove Mr Chalker for “continuing to bring … the entire NT Police force into disrepute”.

“There is no doubt that Chalker is a toxic manager whose behaviour is directly responsible for the enormous attrition rate since he was appointed, and the catastrophic morale, as well as the devastating impact he has had on the mental health of the organisation,” Mr Rolfe wrote.

“Chalker has repeatedly lied to the press, and lied to the public, as well as lied to his own staff and it is his legacy of persecuting his own police staff when it is obvious that there is zero evidence to substantiate any wrongdoing – but as the self-appointed Judge, Jury and Executioner he decides to waste millions of dollars of taxpayers hard earned funds on vexatious charges that have no merit.

“As a government minister, no doubt you have watched Chalker meander from one disaster to another, and give rambling incoherent press conferences that would make Joe Biden blush with embarrassment, but you are now responsible for the Police Ministry.”

Mr Rolfe added that Mr Chalker has continually proven by his actions that he is “not fit to lead the police or firefighters”.

“He cannot be trusted to tell the truth even when he possesses the evidence of what actually occurred, because he hides and withholds evidence,” he said.

“For the well being of all the hardworking people within the First Responder community, who have sacrificed so much over the past few years, please show that the narcissistic behaviour of Chalker will no longer be tolerated under your watch.”

Ms Early and United Workers NT had called for Mr Chalker to resign after a speech he gave to firefighting recruits in April, in which he raised issues of excessive overtime being paid to firies and labelled some union delegates who “carry rank in the fire service” as “bullies”.

Ms Early said she was also concerned about comments the Commissioner made regarding the ongoing EBA negotiations.

“He has tried to subvert the process with his claim we will not get a pay rise,” she said. “He attacked the union – the workers – contrary to a government directive that he is to work with the unions.”

‘They threw her under the bus’: Union says questions remain over who may have told media officer to lie

The NT Independent revealed in a story this week that internal documents showed media officer Elle Arnold had told a senior fire services member that there was “no sound” on the videos she made of Mr Chalker’s speech when he requested a copy of the recording.

The internal emails also show police media manager Rob Cross told an executive fire services officer that he had held “a couple of conversations” with Ms Arnold about the video and that she was in an “awkward situation”.

The media unit made no comment on the recordings until three days after the NT Independent launched an FOI application in late May to obtain the videos. They then presented parts of the speech to other media outlets that were reported as being of poor sound quality and refused to answer questions.

Ms Early expressed doubt about Ms Arnold being the person who made the decision to deny the existence of a recording of the speech and suggested she was made the scapegoat.

“They realised they would be found out so they threw her under the bus,” she said.

Mr Chalker and Mr Cross did not respond to questions, including what if any action is being taken to address the issue of the media team lying to a senior fire services member about the video of the speech.

They also did not provide a response to the comments made by the union and Mr Rolfe about the lack of integrity in the commissioner’s office when put to them.

The NT Police Association was forced last month to announce a confidence vote in Mr Chalker will be held this month among its members, after nine of 12 NTPA sub-branches demanded a Territory-wide vote be held.