Isles was a fighter: chaplain
A FORMER Warwick police officer who went missing without a trace in 2009 was a "fighter" and wanted to walk out of his job with his head held high, an inquest has heard.
Senior Sergeant Mick Isles was driving from Ayr Police Station to a training session in Townsville in September 2009 when he went missing.
His car, a gun and work clothes were found in dense bushland south of Ayr five days later.
An inquest into Mr Isles' disappearance and the Queensland Police Service response to the officer's prior breakdown is being held in Brisbane.
A police investigation following Snr Sgt Isles' disappearance ruled in favour of suicide but Mr Isles' family suspected foul play.
Former Queensland Police Service chaplain Lindsay Howie told the inquest on Monday he had spoken with Snr Sgt Isles on numerous occasions.
He said he did not think Snr Sgt Isles would have committed suicide as he was a "fighter".
"He wanted to leave the service honourably with his hat on and with his head held high," he said.
"It would not be in Mick's nature, to use a colloquial term, to top himself."
While Snr Sgt Isles was the officer-in-charge of Ayr Police Station a new senior police officer overseeing the northern region was installed.
Rev Howie said Snr Sgt Isles told him the new senior police officer, whose identity had been suppressed by the court, "wanted his head".
Snr Sgt Isles also told Rev Howie the new senior police officer had called him an "oxygen thief."
The senior police officer told the inquest that was totally incorrect.
Rev Howie developed the opinion Snr Sgt Isles held a "valid fear" he was being targeted.
"You can call that paranoia if you want to," Rev Howie said.
Snr Sgt Isles was the subject of a Crime and Misconduct Commission investigation into police corruption before he was cleared in 2009.
Immediately after the investigation was launched, Snr Sgt Isles went on extended sick leave.
He was later stood down from his role as office in charge of Ayr Police Station.
