A former Gold Coast detective is facing misconduct charges after allegedly using the police database for his own ends on dozens of occasions.

Retired drug squad detective Peter Ashley Betts, 49, appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday on 50 charges of misconduct in public office, or alternatively using a restricted computer without consent.

Retired cop Peter Ashley Bettsis facing 50 charges of misconduct in public office. Credit:Louie Douvis

It will be alleged that before he left the service, Mr Betts used the QPrime database 50 times to search for information about people in his personal life.

The charges arose from a Crime and Corruption Commission investigation.