Memorial to be held for police officer who went missing surfing in Byron

Family, friends, colleagues and colleagues have been invited to honour police officer Jay Notaro, who went missing while surfing in Byron Bay in March.

The Ipswich community is set to gather to mourn the “much-admired” police officer who went missing from Byron Bay in March.

Family, friends, and colleagues have been invited to honour Ipswich Police Inspector Jay Notaro at a memorial at Sleeman Sports Complex this Friday, more than 50 days since he went missing from Broken Head Beach near Byron Bay in northeastern NSW.

Ipswich cop Jay Notaro went missing near Byron Bay.

A four day search took place after the 45-year-old senior police officer did not show up for work on Tuesday 25, March which was deemed “out of character” by his family and colleagues.

His car was found parked at the Broken Head Beach carpark, and his surfboard was later discovered by someone walking along the foreshore.

The search for 45-year-old Jay Notaro was launched at Broken Head about 12.40pm on Tuesday after his board was found abandoned and his vehicle located in the carpark. Picture: NewsWire/ Natalie Grono

The board was undamaged and the leg rope was attached.

After a difficult search hampered by tough weather conditions, the effort was called off on Friday March 28.

At the time, his uncle Phil posted to social media: “conditions this week have been horrendous and we can’t thank the NSW and Queensland Police enough for a remarkable response”.

“Plus all the friends and colleagues that attended to help in any way they could. And the onslaught of messages. It’s been truly humbling and heart warming. But we fully understand that they had to call it.

“The search was intensive. Now we wait for Mother Nature to decide if she will return him to us.”

It was reported that Australian actor Chris Hemsworth became involved in the week-long search, as the pair were surfing friends.

Jay Notaro’s family gathered on Broken Head Beach. Picture: NewsWire/ Natalie Grono

Detective Inspector Matt Zimmer at a press conference updating the public on the search for the missing officer Picture: NewsWire/ Natalie Grono

Mr Notaro’s body has never been found.

In 2024, Inspector Notaro was awarded the Damian Leeding Compassion in Policing Award by the Queensland Homicide Victims Support Group. He also helped to solve the cold case murder of Gold Coast man Greg Dufty.

Local MP Charis Mullen shared to Facebook that she would be attending the service on behalf of the Jordan electorate to offer the community’s condolences.

“A memorial service will be held for former Ipswich Patrol Inspector Jay Notaro on 16 May,” she wrote.

“We are feeling the loss of such an exceptional and much-admired police officer and my thoughts are with his family and his colleagues in the Queensland Police Service.”

Mr Notaro’s family have asked the media and public to respect their privacy on Friday as they gather to share memories and remember the beloved officer.

Originally published as Memorial to be held for police officer who went missing surfing in Byron