The family of Warlpiri-Luritja man Kumanjayi Walker, who was fatally shot by former-Constable Zachary Rolfe in 2019, says his dismissal from the NT Police Force "felt like a win" for the Yuendumu community.
WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains the name and image of a person who has died, used with the permission of their family.
"This has been really important for us, and this is perhaps the start of our healing," a statement from the Justice For Walker campaign said.
"This is a small step towards justice, but there is much more to be done to correct an extremely broken system."
Mr Rolfe was formally dismissed from the NT Police Force on Tuesday, with a spokesperson for the force citing "serious breaches of discipline" throughout his career.
Lawyers for Mr Rolfe said he intends to appeal the dismissal.
The ABC understands the dismissal relates to a 2,500-word statement published online in February by Mr Rolfe, criticising the Northern Territory Police Force's executive leadership and ongoing coronial inquest into the death of Kumanjayi Walker.
Mr Walker died in Yuendumu in November 2019 after he was shot three times by then-constable Rolfe during an attempted arrest.
Days later, Mr Rolfe was charged with murder but later acquitted following a Supreme Court trial, where he argued he fired the shots in self-defence, after being stabbed in the shoulder with a pair of scissors.
There is no suggestion his dismissal is related to the shooting incident itself.
In a lengthy statement released after Mr Rolfe's sacking was made public, the Justice For Walker campaign – made up by members of Mr Walker's family – said the Yuendumu community will continue to fight for their "missed and loved Kumanjayi."
"[We] have cried endless tears for Kumanjayi. We have thought about his fears, his pain, his suffering, and his loneliness in his last hours, and we have felt our deep sadness in missing him," the statement said.
"When we got the news of Zachary's termination yesterday, we cried. As a community and family, we feel a grave sense of relief knowing that he doesn't wear the same uniform that he wore when he shot Kumanjayi. We cried, hoping that this is the start of change, of accountability. We cried with hope."
Union says dismissal 'very disappointing'
The Northern Territory Police Association, which has backed Zachary Rolfe since he fatally shot Kumanjayi Walker in 2019, says his dismissal "highlights deficiencies" in the NT Police Force's disciplinary processes.
NT Police Association president Paul McCue said he was "very disappointed" by the decision to dismiss Mr Rolfe.
"It's a very sad finale of what's been a series of failed processes along the way… and I think the police force itself needs to have a look at itself in terms of the way they've managed this incident since day one," Mr McCue told ABC Radio Alice Springs.
"Obviously Zach is not the only member affected, there's a whole bunch of members in the police force that have been through some difficult times as a result of this process."
Mr McCue said the 2,500-word statement which was published online was a sign of the amount of stress Mr Rolfe had been under throughout the lengthy court process.
"It's been a really challenging time, for him to have penned that letter that he did. Obviously you could see the frustration spill out onto that page," he said.
"Unless you have walked his shoes for the last three and a half years, I don't think anyone can judge what he ultimately ended up doing there, and whilst people will judge it and read it in certain ways, you can only imagine ... just how much it's been a struggle."
Mr McCue said the association will continue to support Mr Rolfe as he appeals his dismissal.
Separate appeals underway
Mr Rolfe currently has several unrelated appeal proceedings underway in the Northern Territory Supreme Court.
In December last year, he launched a judicial review of police disciplinary proceedings against him, in a bid to have 25 alleged breaches quashed.
Supreme Court documents show the former officer was accused of the alleged breaches – which he denies – in 2021, after they were uncovered while police investigated him over the shooting of Mr Walker.
That matter is scheduled to be heard by the Supreme Court in May.
Separately, lawyers for Mr Rolfe are scheduled to argue against a Supreme Court decision which compels the former officer to answer certain questions at the ongoing inquest into Mr Walker's death.
Mr Rolfe previously claimed 'penalty privilege' and argued, as a serving officer, he should not be forced to answer questions that could lead to disciplinary action within the force.
As he is no longer a serving member of the police force, it's unclear how that appeal will proceed.
It remains scheduled to be heard by three Supreme Court judges on Tuesday, April 11.
