The cop who filmed himself stoning a defenceless wombat to death while laughing will not be charged with a crime.
Waylon Johncock, a South Australian police community liaison officer, was investigated over the disturbing footage shot on the Eyre Peninsula.
His actions were widely condemned across the country but police internal affairs spent more than two months investigating while he stayed on the job.
On Thursday SA Police finally announced Johncok would be neither charged nor face any discipline for the animal slaughter.
This is despite 300,000 people signing a petition calling for him to be punished and even Aboriginal elders disavowing his actions.
Waylon Johncock, a South Australian police community liaison officer, is under investigation over the disturbing footage shot on Eyre Peninsula
SA Police confirmed on Wednesday that Mr Johncock had not been placed on leave and was working as normal during the investigation
Disturbing footage has emerged of an off-duty police officer stoning a terrified wombat to death and laughing about it
Commissioner Grant Stevens on October 2 promised the investigation would be dealt with as a matter of urgency and with the ‘utmost seriousness’ and an update would be released early this week.
‘I find the actions portrayed in the footage to be totally abhorrent and unacceptable. I am aware of the community outrage regarding this matter,’ he said.
‘I want to reassure everybody that the actions in the video do not align with the values and behaviours I expect from my employees, nor does it align with community standards.
‘Numerous employees of South Australia Police have also expressed to me that they, too, find the footage detestable and not consistent with their values.’
Under the Native Title Act of 1993, Aboriginal people are allowed to maintain ancient customs such as hunting local wildlife.
The off-duty police officer can be seen turning around and giving his friend a thumbs up before throwing the rock at the wombat’s head
The video was taken on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula, showing the off-duty officer repeatedly throwing rocks at the wombat’s head while being encouraged by a friend
Indigenous people in South Australia have traditionally killed wombats with rocks and Wirangu-Kokatha elder Jack Johncock said that this right must be preserved.
However, Ngarrindjeri elder Major Sumner said the officer’s actions in stoning the gentle animal while laughing hysterically were ‘wrong’.
‘We didn’t hunt like that. We still don’t hunt like that,’ the 71-year-old told The Advertiser.
‘If they’re saying it was hunting for food, you wouldn’t go and hunt a sheep like that (and) you wouldn’t go and hunt any cattle like that.
‘If you want to hunt something for food, it’s done in the most humane way and end their life straight away – it’s not a fun game for you.’
The disturbing footage showed Mr Johncock repeatedly throwing rocks at the wombat’s head on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula.
Mr Johncock, who was off-duty at the time, was seen getting out of a truck and chasing after the helpless wombat wearing nothing but his shoes and shorts.
Ngarrindjeri elder Major Sumner (pictured) said the officer’s shocking cruel actions in stoning the gentle animal was ‘wrong’
Mr Johncock has been in the South Australian Police Force for 10 years working as one of the state’s 36 Community Liaison Officers
The man behind the wheel told him to ‘get up close’ as he picked up a rock and hurled it at the animal as it tried to run away.
‘You’ve got him, you’ve got him, hit him, hit him,’ the man in the car could be heard saying as Johncock picked up another rock.
‘Kill him!’
As the man behind the wheel sped up to keep the headlights shining on him, Johncock gave a final blow causing it to topple over.
‘Yeah! You did it!’ the man in the car said. ‘First man I’ve ever seen kill a wombat on foot, bro.’
Mr Johncock has been in the South Australian Police Force for 10 years working as one of the state’s 36 Community Liaison Officers.
His time in the force has been spent helping non-Indigenous officers understand cultural and social issues within the community in order to bridge the gap.
Mr Johnock briefly played in the SANFL for Glenelg, but was a star player in country leagues around South Australia.
He won the league best and fairest awards in the Port Lincoln league in 2005 and the Far Western Football League in 2008, and kicked the winning goal after the siren in a grand final for Noarlunga in the Southern Football League in 2014.
Johncock’s time in the force has been spent helping non-Indigenous officers understand cultural and social issues within the community in order to bridge the gap