Timeline of John McRoberts' role as Northern Territory police commissioner
John McRoberts was appointed the Northern Territory police commissioner and chief executive of the NT Emergency Services in 2009.
His time in the top job included some victories but was also overshadowed by controversial decisions.
December 2009
John McRoberts named NT Police Commissioner
John McRoberts was the assistant commissioner in Western Australia, in charge of counter-terrorism, when he was appointed NT Police Commissioner by the then police minister and former chief minister Paul Henderson. Appointing an interstate candidate over a local was controversial and upset some local police and members of the public.
Mr McRoberts' former boss, WA Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan, at the time said: "John is an extremely competent officer with vast experience across many police portfolios... The Northern Territory's gain will be WA's loss."
Then-police minister Paul Henderson said Mr McRoberts beat a "very high quality field" for the position, but NT opposition leader Terry Mills said the job should have gone to a local.
February 2010
Controversial uniform change
Mr McRoberts raised concerns with the NT Police khaki-coloured uniform, saying it was not fit for modern policing.
A trial in 2012 saw new blue police uniforms introduced in Alice Springs but there was some backlash.
Eventually 60 per cent of NT Police officers voted to change the uniform, though concerns were raised the dark blue colour would be too hot in the hot Northern Territory conditions.
February 2010
Inappropriate use of CCTV by police
The new commissioner was greeted by a scandal where a security camera was used by police to "zoom in on the rear of a lady".
Mr McRoberts launched an internal investigation but said he would not describe the action as "perving on young women".
May 2010
Germaine Greer lashes NT cops
The iconic feminist writer Germaine Greer told a festival in Darwin she saw rough handling of an Indigenous man in the city, but the commissioner defended his officer.
Mr McRoberts said video footage showed a police officer used his foot to "very lightly tap" a man's shoulder to wake him up.
"The first intervention with that man who was lying on the floor was indeed my staff," he said.
May 2010
Beer ban "un-Territorian"
The new police commissioner attracted criticism by banning the sale of full-strength beer at Darwin's Marrara Stadium.
Some people labelled the move "un-Territorian" with one member of the public interviewed by the ABC saying: "We're all suffering because the police commissioner wants to have his own way. Where is it going to stop, no alcohol there at all?"
July 2010
Assistant Commissioner also from WA
Mr McRoberts further alienated senior NT Police officers by appointing an interstate candidate, Shayne Maines, as assistant commissioner.
August 2010
Tasers rolled out to NT Police
Every police officer in the NT would be armed with at least one taser by the end of the year, Mr McRoberts announced.
"This is simply providing police officers who are on frontline duties with another weapon that they can use to diffuse a violent confrontation," he said.
The announcement came after a 39-year-old Indigenous man died after being tasered in Alice Springs in 2009.
September 2010
Accusation of abuse of power
A former police officer took Mr McRoberts to court claiming the commissioner had abused his office of authority.
Mr McRoberts' lawyer labelled the case a stunt and vexatious and the case against him was lost in 2011.
November 2010
Police defend accessing journalist's phone
Mr McRoberts defended police who accessed the phone of a Northern Territory journalist after he received information from a source about a raid at the then Darwin lord mayor's house.
Mr McRoberts said he was not trying to curtail freedom of the press.
The NT News later said the information did not come from police but from the then governing Labor Party.
April 2011
Under pressure on police mistakes
Mr McRoberts took responsibility for a botched murder investigation. A coronial report said the investigation into Katherine school teacher Michael Condrick was flawed. Mr McRoberts said changes would be enforced.
Mr McRoberts was also unable to explain why no disciplinary action was taken against police who punched a prisoner in a police watch house in Darwin. The victim was later paid $100,000 in damages.
September 2011
'Fly-in fly-out' accusations
Then opposition frontbencher Dave Tollner labelled Mr McRoberts a "fly-in fly-out" commissioner.
Mr McRoberts said the statement was bizarre and that Darwin was his home.
December 2011
Alcohol flip-flop
Mr McRoberts backed the Labor government's controversial Banned Drinkers Register, saying it resulted in less alcohol-related crime.
He would later decline to comment when the Country Liberal Party swept to power in the Northern Territory and removed the laws.
September 2012
Death in custody puts job on the line
NT Police were put under the spotlight during an investigation into the custody death of Kwementyaye Briscoe at the Alice Springs watch house.
Civil libertarians called for an independent inquiry, and Mr McRoberts's job was under a cloud.
He remained in his post but10 police officers were disciplined after a scathing report by the coroner which highlighted serious failings by NT Police.
October 2013
Police fail to pursue politician
Mr McRoberts is criticised for failing to pursue an investigation into Member for Arnhem and then Country Liberal Party member Larisa Lee.
Ms Lee was accused of inappropriately using the resources of an Indigenous corporation she was a board member of, in her bid for Parliament.
She would later repay the money.
February 2014
Raggett murder investigation mistakes haunt chief
Mr McRoberts said the NT Police had learnt from their mistake over the 2007 death of "K" Raggett in the remote town of Borroloola.
The boy's death was examined by the ABC's Four Corners programme, which outlined serious failings in the initial police investigation.
Mr McRoberts described the investigation as "sub-optimal" but said that had nothing to do with the fact the boy was Indigenous.
May 2014
Contract extended for five more years
Mr McRoberts confirmed to ABC Radio his contract had been renewed.
There had been some speculation about whether the new Country Liberal Party Government would look to appoint their own police commissioner, but Chief Minister Adam Giles chose to extend the term of the Labor appointee.
June 2014
Support for officers in child controversy
Mr McRoberts backed Alice Springs officers who put a 15-month-old boy in the back of a policy paddy wagon, after photos of the toddler in a nappy in the cage were published by the media.
November 2014
NT Crimestoppers head arrested
The chairperson of the NT branch of Crime Stoppers and Darwin travel agent Xana Kamitsis was arrested.
Mr McRoberts would later be accused of interfering with the criminal investigation into alleged offences by Ms Kamitsis against the Pensioner and Carer Concessions Scheme.
Police alleged more than $20,000 had been obtained illegally through the scheme.
December 2014
Chief in spotlight as Sinclair body found
Mr McRoberts announced police had found the likely grave site of missing Darwin woman Carlie Sinclair.
Ms Sinclair was last seen having an argument with her partner, Danny Deacon, in July, 2013.
Despite Mr McRoberts announcing that police had found the grave site, it was another week before her body was uncovered.
Mr Deacon was charged with her murder and is awaiting trial.
January 2015
McRoberts resigns
Mr McRoberts resigned as police commissioner after the Northern Territory Government said it had lost faith in him over a perceived conflict of interest.
"After speaking to my Cabinet colleagues, including the Chief Minister, we saw that there was a loss of confidence in our police commissioner, leading to accepting his resignation today," acting Chief Minister Peter Chandler said.
The ABC understands the conflict of interest related to the criminal investigation of Darwin travel agent Xana Kamitsis.
