Bashed Townsville police officer hopes reward will bring justice

A DECADE after a police officer was king-hit in a brawl and left with permanent facial damage, a $100,000 reward has been offered to find her attacker.

Senior-Constable Tenelle Luscombe had to have six plates inserted in her head after the attack. Picture: Justin Brierty

A DECADE after a police officer was king-hit and left with permanent facial damage, a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the cowardly attacker has been announced.

In the early hours of July 4, 2007, Constable Tenelle Luscombe, then aged 26, and her partner rushed to central Townsville following reports of a massive brawl in a carpark.

When they arrived, they found about 80 people fighting. While trying to break up the brawl, Constable Luscombe was king-hit – a punch that changed her life.

After the coward punch, Tenelle Luscombe sports a shiner – the least of her medical woes.

Now, 10 years later, police are offering $100,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the attacker, who left the now senior constable with a metal plate in her face.

“I still remember it very vividly,” Sen-Constable Luscombe said. “We got a call for a disturbance on Flinders St, but when we got there, the carpark across from the nightclubs was just full of people fighting. I reckon 60 to 80 people, just spot fights everywhere.

“My partner and I were trying to stop some fights and I was talking to someone and someone reached around me and started uppercutting the guy I was talking to. I got pushed out of that little fight.

“Then I just felt a smack to the head. I had no idea what had happened.”

Sen-Constable Luscombe had facial reconstruction that left her with nerve damage.

“I had to have an operation that required 26 staples over the top of my head and they inserted six plates and so many screws to hold it.

“It is still in there right now, and I still have nerve damage in my face, which gets pins and needles.

“I’d like them to come forward, I’m assuming they’ve got a conscience.”

Information can be phoned to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.