GP blames 'rotten' culture in NT Police for Michael Deutrom's death and other officer suicides
Warning: This story contains references to suicide and self-harm and will be distressing for some readers.
Constable Michael Deutrom was one of three NT Police officers who took their own life in the first half 2022.
Throughout his career he faced several traumas, including an attempt to rescue a driver from a burning car as a young constable, intense scrutiny over his role in an arrest, and a false sexual assault allegation.
A coronial inquest in Darwin is examining the pressures he faced at work and the treatment he received.
The inquiry heard Constable Deutrom had taken personal leave from his posting — as one of two officers in the remote Central Australian community of Kintore — where he described feeling like he was constantly "on call", sleeping just three hours per night.
General practitioner Justin Sykes had treated Constable Deutrom for anxiety, depression and suspected PTSD, tearing up on Tuesday as he addressed the late officer's family and describing him as a "gentle, beautiful man".
"It was a privilege serving Michael," the GP said.
Dr Sykes was cross-examined about his decision not to refer Constable Deutrom to a psychiatrist at the time, despite the officer disclosing he'd had some hallucinations and thoughts of suicide.
The doctor told the inquest he had treated multiple officers for mental health concerns around the same time and blamed NT Police's "rotten culture" for the deaths of Constable Deutrom and other police officers who died by suicide.
"I had police at that time who were being prosecuted, I had police who were prosecuting who were under an immense amount of stress."
Dr Sykes later clarified that he was referring to the fatal November 2019 police shooting of Kumanjayi Walker and subsequent prosecution of then-constable Zachary Rolfe.
Mr Rolfe was acquitted of criminal wrongdoing in relation to Mr Walker's death in custody.
Dr Sykes told the inquest there was a culture within the police force of "feeling unsafe", and he believed Constable Deutrom "knew, whether small or non-existent … allegations against him" would leave the officer "hung out to dry".
The GP referenced comments Constable Deutrom had made to his psychologist about his experience of being "extensively" cross-examined during an unrelated coronial inquest, which probed the death of a man the officer had helped arrest.
"I had very junior police [officers] going to very remote, very challenging places, they were being burnt out and coming back as wrecks," he said.
"This is a rotten culture within the NT police force [at the time], that sacrificed very good people."
Last month, after an inquest into Mr Walker's death, NT Coroner Elisabeth Armitage found NT Police bore the "hallmarks of institutional racism".
While Dr Sykes said he was seriously concerned about Constable Deutrom's health, he said did not believe the officer was at "imminent risk" of attempting to take his own life.
The inquest heard the GP prescribed an SNRI anti-depressant medication and benzodiazepam to help Constable Deutrom sleep, before the officer flew to Adelaide to stay with his parents.
Despite the officer disclosing thoughts of suicide on two occasions and hallucinations on one occasion, Dr Sykes did not refer him to a psychiatrist.
He told the inquest he believed it would have taken Constable Deutrom six months to get an appointment, and a psychiatrist would have offered a similar treatment plan.
Dr Sykes said the decision not to refer Constable Deutrom was "reasonable" at the time but said, in hindsight, he needed a psychiatrist.
He told the inquest he had not been aware of a program within police's wellbeing unit which fast-tracked psychiatrist appointments.
Under cross-examination Dr Sykes also admitted that an increased dosage of the SNRI medication could lead to better outcomes in people at risk of suicide.
The inquest into Mr Deutrom's death continues on Wednesday, where NT Police is expected to give evidence.
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