The NT Police top brass has stripped a respected officer and father of two of his livelihood for speaking out against Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker in an opinion piece in the NT Independent, in which he called for the police force to restore its core values and hold a vote of no confidence against Mr Chalker in the wake of the Zach Rolfe matter.

Sergeant Mark Casey, a 25-year veteran of the NT Police, was yesterday suspended without pay after his opinion piece garnered thousands of reads and hundreds of social media shares in support.

Sgt Casey wrote that Mr Chalker had breached the values of the NT Police force through his handling of the Constable Rolfe matter, that investigators’ notes show he was involved in, in the days leading up to the officer’s murder charge in the shooting death of Yuendumu man Kumanjayi Walker despite telling the public he was not involved.

Sgt Casey was also critical of the “authoritarian” approach Mr Chalker and the executive were taking to managing the force.

“I have concerns about the actions of executive officers of the NT Police, in particular the Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker,” he wrote.

“This concern relates to the authoritarian management as a whole, and specifically in relation to the charging of Constable Zach Rolfe.

“I have observed the events since the day of the shooting and have held my judgement until now, as I feel that unless someone speaks up there will be no change.

“It is time for someone to stand up and allow the discourse to happen, rather than sitting in fear, waiting for someone else to take action.”

The article ran in the NT Independent yesterday morning and by 5:40pm, an internal memo was circulated to all police informing them that Sgt Casey had been suspended without pay for “allegedly committing a number of serious breaches of discipline”.

The email was from the ironically titled “assistant commissioner, people and cultural reform”, who is currently Bruce Porter.

The internal broadcast said Sgt Casey, who was not named, was suspended for his “public views that do not align with the oath taken by the officer as a member of the Northern Territory Police Force and not in accordance with the Code of Conduct and Ethics”.

The memo said the matter had been referred to the police’s internal Professional Standards Command and again, ironically, the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption and the NT Ombudsman.

The ICAC is currently investigating the four days between the Yuendumu shooting and the police’s rush to charge Constable Rolfe in which Mr Chalker and Chief Minister Michael Gunner are expected to be called as witnesses.

Constable Rolfe was found not guilty of murder and two other charges in March by a Supreme Court jury after a five-week murder trial.

The ICAC is also investigating whether political interference played a part in the rushed charges.

The internal police memo issued last evening also specifically warned other officers about making their feelings on the commissioner public.

“All members are reminded that they are bound by the NTPF Code of Conduct and Ethics and their oath of office,” the email said.

“If you are approached by media for comment on this matter, please refer them to Rob Cross, director of media and corporate communications for a response.”

Sgt Casey declined to comment when contacted by the NT Independent last night.

His father, Garry Casey, a retired NT Police officer who served for 33 years, commented on a local police support Facebook page that he was “a proud dad” after the opinion piece ran.

“[Mark] has always been passionate about and dedicated to his job,” he wrote.

“When I spoke to him about this this morning, he said too many people were hurting especially over the fallout over [Constable Rolfe].

“Too many members are being disciplined for such minor and trivial things and members have lost respect for the majority of the hierarchy. The respective associations need to step up and support their members. My son has my full support – Pride, Integrity & Guts!

“A heartfelt thanks for all the support – one proud dad here.”

Sgt Casey is the second serving NT Police officer to publicly state his dissatisfaction with the way the current executive is managing police. Late last year then-Sergeant Leith Phillips – who helped investigate Mr Walker’s shooting – spoke out at a public rally against the NT Police administration, then published his resignation letter in the NT Independent, in which he said he had no respect for Mr Chalker, and did not have any confidence in his ability to lead police with respect, honour, and integrity.

At least three regional branches of the NT Police Association in the last few weeks have supported motions calling for a Territory-wide vote of no confidence in Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker.

READ SGT CASEY’S OPINION PIECE HERE.