The NT Police top brass has directed a staffer to investigate the petty vandalism of a small number of federal election candidate corflutes – which they describe as “criminal damage” – that were repurposed with the slogan “Integrity matters, sack Chalker now”.

The NT Police are actively pursuing that matter, with a total estimated damage in the tens of dollars range, while other complaints of more substantial corflute vandalism appear to have been stalled.

The NT Independent understands a small number of corflutes were allegedly damaged in Darwin in the lead up to the federal election on May 21, including some along the Stuart Hwy at Berrimah, near the turnoff to McMillans Rd and police headquarters at the Peter McCaulay Centre.

They all had wording similar to “integrity matters, sack Chalker now” written on the back of them.

A source said the high-level investigation is being run out of the office of Assistant Commissioner Bruce Porter, who is responsible for people and cultural reform, with police actively seeking to have charges pressed against the person, or persons, responsible for the petty vandalism.

It’s understood each corflute would be worth between $15 and $20.

Meanwhile, other more substantial complaints made by federal election candidates about the destruction of corflutes appear to have been put on the back burner.

“Corflutes are regularly damaged or defaced…while this is no doubt frustrating for the candidates, we have no reason to suspect the safety of the candidates themselves is at risk.”

The investigation into the corflutes comes as 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.

That same week, Mr Chalker was asked in Budget Estimates if his position was untenable, replying that he had a “silent majority” who supported him. He added that it was “heartbreaking” for him to deal with “mistruths” and “disgusting commentary” in the media, including in his involvement in the Constable Zach Rolfe murder charge and how he hoped the truth would come out after unspecified “internal processes” were over.

Police sources have told the NT Independent the lack of confidence in Mr Chalker stems in large part from Constable Rolfe’s murder charge, but that there is also deep unhappiness at the doubling of the attrition rate, the perceived lack of action from the top brass on the mental health well-being report, a view that disciplinary action is being used for frivolous matters, as well as a belief the executive enforce standards on the rank-and-file that they do not uphold themselves.

In late May, Ms Early, who is also the United Workers boss and represents firefighters, called for Mr Chalker to stand down from his position as NT Fire chief executive, for allegedly telling new recruits on their second day of training “all firefighters are greedy”, and that he was “coming after” one senior fire officer who is also a union delegate.

Videos of parts of the speech obtained by the NT Independent under Freedom of Information laws, show Mr Chalker speaking to recruits during a wide-ranging and disjointed speech which included his stated intention to put an end to union “bullies” who “carry rank in the fire service” bullying fire staff, and high overtime expense claims.

Internal police emails also showed his media team lied to a senior fire services officer who requested the video of the speech, telling him there was “no sound” on the videos which was later proven to be untrue.