A former officer in charge at the Camooweal Police Station, who admitted misappropriating more than $18,000, has been sentenced to three-and-a-half years behind bars.

Key points: Daniel Allen Baker, 37, stole more than $18,000 from the Camooweal Police Station while officer in charge

Daniel Allen Baker, 37, stole more than $18,000 from the Camooweal Police Station while officer in charge Over a year, instead of depositing cash payments received for gun licences, Baker pocketed the money for himself

Over a year, instead of depositing cash payments received for gun licences, Baker pocketed the money for himself After pleading guilty to misconduct, Baker was sentenced to three-and-a-half years' jail

Daniel Allen Baker, 37, was a senior sergeant when he misappropriated cash payments, between July 2015 and February 2017.

He held the senior position in the rural police station.

At the District Court in Townsville, his actions were labelled as a "gross breach of trust" by Judge Gregory Lynham.

After pleading guilty to misconduct, Baker was sentenced to three-and-a-half years behind bars.

The court heard Baker was suffering from a gambling, alcohol, and depressive disorder during his offending and would borrow money from friends to replace the thousands stolen from the police station.

At the time, the Camooweal Police Station acted as an agent for the Department of Transport and Main Roads and served as a location where citizens could apply for weapons licences.

Baker resigned from the Queensland Police Service in March 2017. ( ABC: Blythe Moore )

The police station would seal cash payments by citizens in envelopes and deposit them to the relevant government department.

Crown prosecutor Monique Sheppard said in more than a year, Baker did not deposit any cash payments and instead pocketed them for himself.

"In diverse dates during that 19-month period, he dishonestly misappropriated $18,110.50," the Crown said.

"He falsely recorded on internal documents that the money had been banked."

An anonymous complaint was made to the Crime and Corruption Commission in October 2016, which sparked an internal police investigation.

Baker resigned from the Queensland Police Service in March 2017.

In his sentencing, Judge Lynham said it seemed clear Baker had suffered, "a great deal of shame and embarrassment".

"You had the capacity of being an excellent police officer," Judge Lynham said.

"I'm told on your behalf that you received a number of commendations.

"The sad reality is that you've gone and squandered whatever achievements you obtained as a police officer by your fraudulent conduct that leaves you before me here today.

"No doubt, you were proud to be a police officer and regrettably for you, you threw that away.

"You betrayed the trust of the Queensland Police Service and your conduct no doubt brought great shame to that organisation."

Locals outraged by 'breach of trust'

The incident outraged locals, according to one victim who was approached by investigating officers after paying a licence fee in cash.

"I had two detectives rock up at my residence in Camooweal asking for a statement regarding my license, and specifically how we paid for our licensing," she said.

"It surprised me.

"When they put that uniform on, when they become an officer, they should do that job professionally," she said.

Baker will be eligible for release in three months after already serving 334 days in pre-sentence custody.