Ex-cop tweets dead people images, denied gun licence

A FORMER Southern Downs police officer who tweeted images of dead people and failed to properly lodge evidence while on duty has been denied a weapons licence.

RULING STANDS: Former Southern Downs police officer Ben Dyball has lost his bid to have his weapons licence reinstated. Picture: Contributed

A FORMER Southern Downs police officer who tweeted images of dead people and failed to properly lodge evidence while on duty has been denied a weapons licence.

Ben Alexander Ephraim Dyball had appealed to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal to overturn a September 7, 2015, decision which revoked his firearms licence.

Member Michael Wood, in a lengthy decision published this morning, upheld the decision to cancel his licence finding him not a "fit and proper person” to hold one.

Mr Wood said Mr Dyball's conduct while a serving officer showed a "complete disregard for authority” when he fled from a random breath test site in Warwick and into NSW.

Mr Dyball's weapons licence was reviewed and suspended after a missing persons report was filed with police on June 10, 2015.

Police were unable to serve Mr Dyball with the suspension notice, and after he reported his firearms stolen on August 19, 2015, had the licence revoked.

Mr Dyball applied to review the decision in October that year, and a hearing was listed for Toowoomba in May last year.

He was arrested outside the Toowoomba court precinct and failed to appear at future listings.

Mr Wood noted Mr Dyball's post traumatic stress disorder was a major factor in his medical retirement from the police service in 2008.

Mr Wood noted Mr Dyball's criminal history including careless driving and failing to stop for police at a Warwick breath test site and fleeing into NSW.

Mr Wood said Mr Dyball failed to accurately disclose his mental health concerns on the weapons licence application forms.

"In terms of his behaviour whilst a police officer, he agreed that he failed to properly lodge evidence for use in proceedings ... but instead kept the evidence in his own personal locker,” Mr Wood said.

"He went on to agree that he had a Twitter account with his nickname "MadEyes” as the profile name of that account.

"He agreed that he posted pictures of deceased persons on Twitter within the last six months.”

In upholding the police decision, Mr Wood said Mr Dyball showed a "complete disregard for authority” while a police officer and made "misleading statements” when applying for the weapons licence in 2011 and 2006.

"On balance I am not satisfied that the applicant is a fit and proper person to hold a weapons licence, I am further satisfied that it is not in the public interest to do so,” Mr Wood said.

Originally published as Ex-cop tweets dead people images, denied gun licence