Former Gold Coast police officer Rick Flori says the Queensland Police Service must change its culture following a weekend death in custody.

Mr Flori, 47, was found not guilty at the Southport District Court on Wednesday following a six-day trial on a single charge of misconduct in relation to public office after leaking CCTV footage of a violent arrest in 2012.

The ex-sergeant said despite the glare his case has thrown onto illegal and excessive uses of force by some officers towards people in custody, the death of an Indigenous man in north Queensland on Saturday showed there is still work to be done.

"It's 2018 (and) the same things are going on," Mr Flori said outside court.

"A 39-year-old Aboriginal father of seven, hadn't had a drink in five years, was alive before he came into contact with police and something's certainly gone on as soon as he's gone into custody.

"That's extremely concerning. It doesn't appear that they've learnt any lessons in this."

It's understood the family of the man, now referred to as Noomba, will seek compensation.

Noomba's family say police had been told the man had a heart condition before allegedly using excessive force on him.

The incident is under investigation by ethical standards command, under the supervision of the coroner, and Queensland's Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC).

Mr Flori said the fact the officer who led the investigation that culminated in his being charged is now working at the CCC concerned him.

"The architect of all this is now working for the CCC," he said.

"The idea of being open and honest, as they continually quote, the checks and balance and all this openness and honesty, is not what they do."

"It's all verbal rhetoric."

© AAP 2018