Queensland Police Inspector Jay Notaro, aged 45, is reported missing after he was last seen at Broken Head Beach on Tuesday morning. A passer-by discovered his intact surfboard, complete with its leg rope, on the beach around 7:30am, while his car, containing his keys, was parked nearby.
Notaro, a highly regarded and experienced surfer, has previously led the Queensland Water Police. Concerns about his well-being were raised when he failed to arrive for his shift at the Ipswich Police Station on the same day. Tweed-Byron Detective Inspector Matt Zimmer stated that Notaro’s disappearance is highly unusual and out of character, noting that the conditions at the beach had been relatively calm, which would typically pose no issue for someone of Notaro’s skill level.
Local authorities launched a search operation at 1pm on Tuesday, which has since continued daily from 7am until sunset, primarily concentrating on the areas around Lennox Head and Cape Byron, particularly near Byron Bay. Unfortunately, search conditions have worsened due to adverse weather, including increased winds and rain, complicating rescue efforts.
The search operation involves multiple agencies, including Police Rescue, Marine Area Command, Queensland PolAir, Surf Life Saving NSW, and local police forces, reflecting the seriousness of the situation as they aim to find the missing officer.