Constable Bryce Collins faced Brisbane Magistrates Court

A Queensland police officer’s offences have been blamed on being a “lonely young man” struggling to come to terms with the end of a professional sports career, a court has heard.

Constable Bryce Robert Collins was posted to Proserpine after completing an accelerated recruitment program during COVID.

A cop who sent a photo of a dead person to a woman on Instagram, looked up personal details of a female he’d matched to on a dating app and disclosed the identities of officers involved in a fatal shooting was lonely and struggling to come to terms with the end of his professional baseball career, a court has heard.

Constable Bryce Robert Collins, 27, pleaded guilty on Thursday to two counts each of improper disclosure of information and using a restricted computer without consent.

Brisbane Magistrates Court heard the former Australian representative baseball player was working as a police officer in Proserpine in the Whitsundays when he attended the sudden death of a home occupant in July last year.

Police officer Bryce Collins leaving Brisbane Magistrates Court. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

Collins took a photo of the deceased, who was sitting upright with medication nearby, and uploaded it to the police computer system as part of his duties.

However he later sent the photograph to a female paramedic via Instagram which left the Queensland Ambulance officer, who reported the matter to police, “repulsed”, the court heard.

In an unrelated incident two months later police prosecutor Jack Scott said Collins used his police issued QLiTE device “to search the name of someone who he was, it appears, matched with on the Tinder application”.

The court heard there was no connection between the woman, who Collins followed on Instagram, and his work duties.

Early on October 1 2022 police fatally shot Luke Gilbert in Airlie Beach after he allegedly approached them with a knife.

The court heard that Collins, who was on a day off, used his QLiTE to look up the deceased’s interstate criminal history.

Later that day he was messaged by someone outside the police service asking about the shooting and during the conversion Collins identified the officers involved in the incident.

“There is an expectation … those that are privy to private and sensitive information will exercise due care and diligence to protect such information,” Mr Scott said.

“The offences also represent something more than, in my submission, a single lapse in judgement occurring over effectively three different occasions.”

Mr Scott acknowledged Collins’ “excellent” rehabilitation prospects and the unlikelihood of facing court again.

Two further counts of use restricted computer without consent were dropped by the prosecution.

Collins’ solicitor Callan Lloyd said his client had led an otherwise blameless life with no prior criminal history and was a highly talented baseball player who represented Australia overseas.

A gun baseball player Collins was signed by the Brisbane Bandits after playing in the US college system.

After finishing school he moved to the US where he spent four years playing college baseball.

On returning home he was signed by the Brisbane Bandits baseball team and had also helped implement programs for disadvantaged youth.

In 2020 during COVID he signed up to Queensland Police completing the accelerated recruitment program in four months before being posted to Proserpine.

“Rural policing is a long way from the bright lights of professional sports and professional baseball,” Mr Lloyd said.

“Mr Collins found himself in a rural region with limited social outlets and was attending to the difficult nature of policing general duties.

“Without excusing the conduct, in my submission, your honour would characterise the offending as very ill conceived actions of a lonely young man having difficulty coming to terms with the end of his sporting career.”

Mr Lloyd said his client was embarrassed and remorseful for his conduct, particularly for sending the photo of a dead person. He said Collins hoped to remain a police officer but would be facing disciplinary action. He is currently suspended.

Collins, left, with his lawyer Callan Lloyd. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

Magistrate Michael Holohan accepted Collins had entered early pleas of guilty and did not gain a benefit or cause a detriment by his actions.

References spoke highly of Collins including one from a corporal in the Australian Defence Force, where Collins also served, which described the defendant as the most reliable soldier the person had served with.

Mr Holohan said the oaths sworn by Collins in the QPS and ADF required “selfless service”.

“It is disappointing that you‘re before this court on the charges which have brought shame on you and perhaps created an element of distrust in the community of both agencies,” he said.

“This court acting on behalf of the Queensland community reiterates that expectation for you to uphold those principles of your oath of service in the future.

“I’m confident that grave error of judgement will not continue anytime in the future.”

Collins was fined $2000. No conviction was recorded.