The NT Police top brass’s decision to sack long-serving Sergeant Mark Casey for voicing his opinion about Jamie Chalker’s leadership was “unreasonable” and is not in line with the executive’s commitment to improve the health and wellbeing of its members, the union representing police officers has said.

Mr Casey was fired yesterday for an opinion piece he wrote for the NT Independent last April, in which he highlighted his concerns about Mr Chalker’s lack of integrity in leadership, his involvement in the Zach Rolfe criminal investigation and the dissolution of the NT Police’s core values.

He was immediately suspended after the article was published, at first with no pay before that was reinstated, and has not been in his job for nearly 10 months before the decision to terminate him was made this week.

“The NTPA is appalled at the decision of NT Police to dismiss veteran police officer, Mark Casey,” president Paul McCue said.

“Mr Casey was denied the opportunity to consider resigning from the NT Police Force, something that has previously been afforded to members who have admitted to committing serious breaches of internal discipline, or have committed criminal offences.

“When you weigh up the seriousness of the matter outlined in Mr Casey’s breach, versus 25 years of dedicated service to the people of the Northern Territory, we would argue the treatment of Mr Casey has been unreasonable.”

Sgt Casey’s sacking has also raised concerns for other police members about Mr Chalker’s supposed commitment to improving mental health of members after the suicides of current and former members early last year. Mr McCue said forcing Sgt Casey to wait at home for nearly a year for an outcome was unfair and a detriment to his health.

“That is hardly in line with the very public commitment of NT Police to improve the health and wellbeing of its members, and goes directly against the recommendations of the most recent review into the internal police disciplinary system,” he said.

“This is just one example of a clearly flawed discipline system, and we will continue to fully support Mr Casey as he considers his options.”

The sacking has caused outrage amongst NT Police rank-and-file members, former members and the public.

“I can’t believe this shitshow can continue, where it is obvious to a normal thinking person, that the hierarchy of the NT Police are out of control,” one commenter wrote on Facebook.

Another said it was clear “the NT Police executive have severe systemic corruption issues that encompasses the whole executive group”.

“The thin blue line and I suspect most of the public is 100% behind you Mark, thank god there [are] people of your integrity to keep the bastards honest, I’m sure the good guys will prevail,” another Facebook commenter wrote.

“How devastating for Mark,” another person wrote. “I can’t help but think the timing of this stinks. Chalker has been totally exposed to be the corrupt , self-serving, egotistical, perverter of justice everyone said he was in the articles published earlier by the NT Independent so does he really think that offering Mark as a sacrificial lamb at this time will take the heat off him?”

Sgt Casey told the NT Independent yesterday that while he was “devastated” to be sacked, he did not regret writing the opinion piece and that he felt obligated to do it to restore the public’s confidence in the NT Police.

“I have observed the events since the day of the [Yuendumu] shooting and have held my judgement until now, as I feel that unless someone speaks up there will be no change,” Sgt Casey wrote in the original opinion piece.

“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.”

You can read his piece entitled ‘Unless someone speaks up there will be no change’ here.