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Queensland Police Insector Jay Notaro, 45, is believed to have been at Broken Head Beach on Tuesday morning.
His surfboard, with leg rope attached and intact, was found on the beach by a passer-by at 7.30am and his car, with his keys, was in the carpark.
Notaro has been described as an experienced surfer and strong swimmer, who once commanded Queensland Water Police.
Concerns were raised for his whereabouts when he failed to show up for work at Ipswich Police Station on Tuesday.
The search began at 1pm AEDT on Tuesday, resuming at 7am until last light each day since, until it was suspended at 1pm this afternoon.
While conditions were calm on Tuesday, they have since deteriorated with wind and rain hindering the search effort.
The search has involved Police Rescue, Marine Area Command, Queensland PolAir, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, NSW SES, Marine Rescue NSW and Surf Life Saving NSW.
Local police and Marine Area Command will continue to search in the area over the coming days.
Tweed-Byron Detective Inspector Matt Zimmer said Notaro’s disappearance was “extremely out-of-character”.
“He’s a very strong swimmer, a very experienced surfer, the conditions that presented over the last few days were quite calm, so he would be extremely capable of managing those conditions due to his experience,” he said.
“The inspector is a very highly regarded, and a very well-respected member of the Queensland Police Service.”