Qld cop’s disappearance ‘not suspicious’

A police officer who vanished in September 2009 most likely took his own life, an inquest has been told.

Senior Sergeant Mick Isles was on his way from Ayr to a training seminar in Townsville when he mysteriously disappeared.

His car and uniform were found five days later in a dry creek bed, 80 kilometres southwest of Ayr.

Sen Sgt Isles had been exonerated of drug trafficking and money laundering allegations just four months before he disappeared.

An inquest into his death heard on Monday that he had returned to work following prolonged stress and sick leave just days before he vanished.

Giving evidence in the Coroners Court in Brisbane, investigating officer Detective Inspector Brian Swan said he believed Sen Sgt Isles took his own life.

“He could have wandered off into the bush, become disoriented and perished,” Insp Swan said.

“A more likely scenario is that Senior Sergeant Isles has taken his own life.”

He told the court Sen Sgt Isles had been treated for depression, he had written a note inferring he wanted to harm himself, and there was evidence he took a shotgun and ammunition with him on the morning he disappeared.

He rejected suggestions made previously by Sen Sgt Isles’s family that he could have been murdered.

“There was simply no evidence that pointed towards foul play,” he said.

The inquest will also examine Sen Sgt Isles’s rehabilitation and return to work plan, the possible delay in him being reported missing, and the adequacy of the search.

The inquest is scheduled to run until Thursday.

* Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or MensLine Australia on 1300 78 99 78.

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