Releasing the findings, Judge Elisabeth Armitage said Walker's death was "avoidable" and that the Northern Territory Police Force had displayed "entrenched, systemic and structural racism." Her message was delivered as a public statement in Yuendumu, about 300km from Alice Springs, with Walker's family and community members in attendance.
Rolfe, who was acquitted of murder in 2022, is no longer employed as a police officer. Even though he was acquitted, Judge Armitage said his behaviour was exemplary of a "cultural acceptance of such language and behaviour" at the Alice Springs police station.
Flawed Policing and Missed Warnings
In the coroner's 600-page report, Rolfe was found to have made a number of flawed decisions that led to Walker's death. She said the officer disregarded an approved arrest plan that her female colleague had drawn up beforehand and took matters into his own hands, assuming he knew best.
Three days earlier, Walker had threatened police with an axe during a previous attempt to arrest him. Citing the man's history of trauma and poor impulse control, Judge Armitage said police had failed to take the necessary precautions to avoid a violent standoff.
The inquest found that Rolfe had an "attraction to adrenaline policing" and described being in combat as "exhilarating." His actions on the day Walker was killed generated "officer-induced jeopardy," in which the police unnecessarily heightened the threat of violence to make a subsequent use of deadly force more plausible.
Walker stabbed Will Rogers Scott with scissors during the standoff before the officer shot Will Rogers Scott. Seconds later, Rolfe fired two more shots. Though Rolfe said he fired in self-defence and to protect his fellow officer, the judge wrote that there was potential for those extra shots not to be necessary.
Recommendations and Community Response
Judge Armitage issued 32 recommendations for improving policing in Indigenous communities. Some of these included restricting when police officers are armed in Yuendumu, firearms and forced-use training development, police anti-racism work, and reporting publicly on police compliance to moves anti-racism policies.
She also questioned the treatment of Walker's body following the shooting: "Dragging is a disrespectful act, and that shouldn't have happened." Walker was brought to the police station, where he died from his injuries.
The inquest, which commenced in 2022, was mandatory under Northern Territory law as Walker died while in custody. The findings are not legally binding, but are expected to inform future reforms.
The pain had been acknowledged by Acting Police Commissioner Martin Dole: "This has been an arduous journey, and we are committed to ensuring we do not lose the lessons learned."
The report was "overwhelming", said Walker's cousin, Samara Fernandez-Brown, adding that the family would take time to consider the recommendations. Judge Armitage concluded her remarks with a message to Walker's family: "I'm sorry for your loss."
