Northern Territory Police issued the plea as the family of Kumanjayi White expressed their frustration over the investigation into the 24-year-old's death four months ago.
Two officers are set to learn their fate after the final autopsy report into Mr White's death was received and a "full and comprehensive" police brief of evidence referred to prosecutors.
Mr White, who had a mental disability, died on May 27 after being restrained by two plain-clothes officers in an Alice Springs supermarket's confectionary aisle.
Police allege the 24-year-old was shoplifting and had assaulted a security guard.
"A life has been lost and that is something that weighs heavily on all of us," Acting Police Commissioner Martin Dole told reporters on Monday.
He extended his condolences to Mr White's family and community on behalf of NT Police and acknowledged the "profound grief" his death had caused across Australia.
The community expected answers and transparency, he said.
The territory's Director of Public Prosecutions will determine whether criminal charges will be laid against any officers involved as a coronial process continues.
The death in custody sparked widespread outrage and calls for an independent inquiry into the incident, release of CCTV footage and for the officers to be stood down.
Police refused to accept those demands.
Mr Dole said on Monday both officers involved were in "non-operational, forward-facing positions in administrative roles".
NT Police Director of Cultural Reform Leanne Liddle said prosecutors "may or may not" recommend charges in the case as part of an independent process.
"I know that there will be anger and hurt in the days and weeks ahead and I want to appeal for calm and for respect as the process by the Director of Public Prosecutions runs its course," she said.
Mr White's grandfather, Warlpiri elder Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves, said on Monday the family wasn't getting the truth from the justice system.
"We want justice, we want independent oversight and we need a change of government in the NT," he said in a statement.
The family of Mr White remained deeply distressed by the ongoing delays, the lack of communication from police investigators, and the absence of independent oversight, Mr Hargraves said.
"They are particularly concerned that even after the brief has been submitted, the police officers involved have not been suspended."
George Newhouse, principal solicitor of the National Justice Project, said the way police had handled the situation was an example of how the justice system was failing First Nations people.
"An independent investigation is still urgently needed," he said.
Mr White was originally from the same outback Yuendumu community that lost 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker in 2019 when he was shot by then-NT police officer Zachary Rolfe during a botched arrest.
Mr Rolfe was found not guilty of all charges over the death in 2022 but NT Coroner Elisabeth Armitage said she could not exclude the possibility his "racist attitudes" contributed to his decision to pull the trigger.
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