An internal email sent to members of the Northern Territory's police union has revealed the NT Police Association (NTPA) plans to conduct a survey on whether officers "have confidence in the Commissioner".
The email, seen by the ABC, cites regional union meetings where issues "regarding confidence" in Commissioner Jamie Chalker had been raised.
"While we await the finalisation of some regional meetings, it is clear the membership is seeking to undertake a survey on the issue," the email reads.
Questions around whether Commissioner Chalker has the support of his rank-and-file members have been raised intermittently since November 2019 when he was sworn in, and shortly after Constable Zachary Rolfe fatally shot Kumanjayi Walker in Yuendumu.
In a statement issued this evening, the executive membership of NT Police, including Commissioner Chalker, said they would work with the NTPA on any issues raised by the planned survey.
"The proposed survey is a matter for the NTPA but the sentiment around confidence first started in the months following the event at Yuendumu in 2019," the statement said.
"Matters relating to COVID-19 mandates and a number of criminal and disciplinary matters involving our members have added to these challenges."
In May, Commissioner Chalker was forced to publicly state he did not intend to resign from his position, after questions were raised about his future in the role.
"Contrary to unfounded reports aired in Darwin this morning I am not resigning as the Northern Territory Commissioner of Police and CEO of Fire and Emergency Services," he wrote at the time.
"I am incredibly proud of the agency I lead."
Mr Chalker has denied allegations of interference with the judicial process and charging of Constable Rolfe with murder.
"Such unfounded allegations are an affront to the critical independence of the Northern Territory police and the DPP and damage the trust and confidence in the criminal justice system which must be held by the community," Commissioner Chalker said in March.
Constable Rolfe was found not guilty of murder earlier this year.
In June, the union representing firefighters in the Northern Territory called for Commissioner Chalker to resign as head of the fire service, a position he holds as well as police and emergency services.
The United Workers Union claimed he no longer had the trust of its members after he allegedly made "unnecessary" remarks at a firefighter's induction session in April.
Survey to discuss why there is a 'sentiment' of 'no confidence'
The email sent to union members on Wednesday night said the Northern Territory Police Association would engage a facilitator to conduct a survey in "the coming weeks".
"While it is clear from feedback at regional meetings those present want to answer the survey on whether they have confidence in the Commissioner, the NPTA Executive, in addition to that, want to understand … the primary drivers for such a sentiment from the regions," the email read.
But some police union members, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, said the survey wouldn't go far enough.
"The membership has called for the vote, but instead of doing that, the association have back doored the members and are going … to run a survey as to why we want the vote beforehand," one officer said.
On Wednesday, police association president Paul McCue told Mix 104.9 that nine of the union's 12 member regions had passed resolutions asking for a vote of no confidence in the Police Commissioner to be held.
"We also want to know what the reasons are behind it," Mr McCue said.
"Simply saying 'we don't have confidence in the Commissioner', that's well and good, and I understand people are frustrated, [but] the message we've been delivering is you need to tell us why... and we need to use it as a positive to make some change."
The NT Police executive said its members would also like to better understand the reasons behind the calls for a no confidence vote
Mr McCue has been contacted for comment.
