Australian Missing Persons Register
This information has come from Mick's son - Senior Sergeant Mick Isles was the officer in charge of the Ayr, QLD police station when he disappeared in September 2009. He had been on his way to a training seminar in Townsville but never arrived. A large-scale search found his unmarked police car abandoned on a rural property west of Townsville. No trace of Mick has been found. 1800 333 000 if you know anything that can help.
Below are comments Mick's son Steven has made, these have been copy and pasted.
Comment one.
As an insight two days after my father disappeared the Divisional Superintendent said to family members, "Don't speak to the media, we will control the media." The following day at the back of the Ayr Police Station, the same Divisional Superintendent said to me, "Don't speak to the media and your mother will never endure financial pressures again." Consensus from our family was to leave no stone unturned and if there was a chance the media could assist use it. We commenced speaking willingly with the media. About three weeks later the Acting Officer In Charge of the Ayr Police Station served papers on my mother in my absence alleging I had threatened to shoot the the Police Commissioner, Bob Atkinson rendering me no longer a 'fit and proper' person and revoking my firearms license. There was no evidence attached and no stipulated basis. As I was concerned of the ramifications I saw no option but to lodge an appeal through the Queensland Courts, I was also very concerned that I would be unable to defend myself against an attempt by Queensland Police to brick me, given they had access to tools I didn't. It took some 8 months before the matter went to Court and I was only provided from the police, their alleged evidence some 3 days before the hearing. They provided statements from 4 Queensland Police Constables claiming they had witnessed me threaten to shoot the Police Commissioner and also a letter from my then boss, the new Commissioner of the Northern Territory Police Force, John McRoberts. The letter was addressed to Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner, Ian Strewart (the now police commissioner). Being mindful of the fact that I had never met NT Police Commissioner McRoberts, the letter said little other than "Steven Isles has a psychiatric condition....", the letter closing with the statement, "I trust this information is sufficient for you." Thankfully 'police' and 'intelligence' in the same sentence is an oxymoron and on attending court, very diligently organized, I was able to have the police case thrown out in not more than 20 minutes and the Magistrate order my firearms license be reinstated, declaring that he would not even consider the matter as the statements were inconsistent and provided no supportive evidence. Also consequent to our family engaging the media, Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson ordered all financials and assets involving my father be frozen for the duration of the investigation, this included my parents house, their vehicle and my father's entitlements. My mother was in an untenable position, as a secondary income earner, having to cover all expenses shared by my parents on a singular income while enduring what was happening. My family had to rally in support as my mother's income alone did not cover her expenses and she was not entitled to any welfare support as there were assets, they were all just frozen. Fortunately through my experience in policing with the NT Police Force I recorded much of what was said and occurred. This is but a short insight to what went on behind the scenes.
Comment two.
I and my family truly appreciate the continued support. There are many families and individuals hurting through the 'unknown' associated with having a missing family member. Nicole an administrator on this page does a tremendous effort.
Comment three.
My father dedicated his life to serving the community, it was his passion, his calling if you will. Prior to policing he worked with what is now Telstra, worked as a forestry ranger, in management in a supermarket and dabbled in working on an oil rig. Policing was the vehicle he chose to drive his passion. Nearing the end of his career he became victim to some of the cultural aspects of policing some of us may not understand, or not want to acknowledge are there. He fought a long battle to have himself cleared of contrived allegations, allegations established through a 'Boys club' mentality. During this time, some 4 months into being stood down he discovered a lump on his breast and was subsequently diagnosed with a carcinoma, a form of breast cancer. He had this lump removed and endured some 6 weeks of radium treatment, travelling back and forth to Townsville by community health bus. He was later given the all clear on his cancer. Being fully exonerated of the contrived criminal allegations, which took some 14 months, he returned to work. A week later he disappeared. He was less than 18 months from retirement. It's a valid question to ponder, does a person with great strength, a fighting spirit who has fought through a cancer scare, declared he would not let the mongrels (those who targeted him) beat him, been fully exonerated, which in policing circles is a rarity as a majority of the time this is used as a tool to push someone. Majority of in house investigations never conclude and remain open indefinitely. In my father's situation the matter didn't commence as an internal investigation, it started from the get go as a criminal allegation, which identified an unknown police officer and two search warrants were executed on his residents and work, turning up nothing. Does a person who can smell the fresh air after navigating troubled waters, disappear without a trace and take their own life. One of my father's final actions before he drove away that morning was asking me if he could take my sunglasses instead of his, as his were blemished, slightly scratched. I gave him my sunglasses. Does a person who is focused on taking their own life bother about a blemish on his sunglasses?
Comment four.
We had a page for the first 3 and 1/2 years, with some 7,500 followers however I will be sure to fire up a new page dedicated to people interested in following through to a book published on Mick Isles and untold truths. Be sure to watch this space. I left home at 15, going on holidays and ending up commencing an apprenticeship as a Boiler maker with Louis Solari, GJ Welding, over the following years my father and I became the best of mates. I joined the police primarily to experiencing life through my father's eyes and this brought us much closer, we even managed to coordinate a cross border drug bust. My father was a stickler for strong values and principles and fortunately this apple fell pretty close to the tree. I owe it to this this wonderful man to allow him to voice his untold story and fortunately through my working understanding of police culture I can and will tell it best. Tomorrow I will post a Facebook Page on here enabling everyone who would like to to follow to point of releasing his story.