Brave cops identified after near-death police shooting at Tamar St, Annerley

The police officers involved in a “scary” shooting in Brisbane’s inner south have been identified amid calls for more first aid equipment for frontline officers. The Commissioner has responded.

President of Queensland Police Union Shane Prior at the scene of a shooting at Tamar Street, Annerley. Picture: Richard Walker

A brave police officer who was shot by a highly-agitated man who ran away from a Brisbane hospital has been identified, with the state’s union boss calling for Queensland Police to invest in more equipment.

Police were called to a home on Tamar St in Annerley on Friday morning when residents spotted a man in their backyard armed with a plank of timber.

Two officers - Acting Sergeant Liam Bailey and First Year Constable Boyd Harrington-Karaitiana - attended and tried to calm the man down, but he lunged for Acting Sergeant Bailey’s gun.

Acting Sergeant Bailey was shot in the leg by the 26-year-old man, and his colleague was forced to shoot the man twice before he was finally apprehended.

Acting Sergeant Liam Bailey in hospital following the alleged shooting.

Constable Harrington-Karaitiana was also severely bitten by the man in the process.

Acting Sergeant Bailey is still recovering in Princess Alexandra Hospital but is awake and in good spirits.

Constable Harrington-Karaitiana has also been praised for his quick-thinking to throw his injured colleague a tourniquet, which ultimately saved his life.

Queensland Police Union boss Shane Prior said Constable Harrington-Karaitiana bought the tourniquet himself, and called on the police commissioner to invest in more equipment.

“Liam was bleeding heavily from his leg and thought he was going to die. Boyd provided him with his personally purchased tourniquet in an effort to start the tactical first aid process to save Liam’s life,” Mr Prior said.

Queensland Police at the scene of a shooting in Tamar Street, Annerley. Picture: Richard Walker

“There was a QPS issued tourniquet, but it is a station-issued product and more often than not they are kept in the police car, as was the case here.

“Make no mistake, this situation did not allow time for Boyd to retrieve the QPS-issued tourniquet from the police car and medical professionals have told me if the tourniquet had not been applied to Liam’s leg when it was, he could have died.

“Today I’m calling on the Commissioner of Police to immediately order the personal issue of tactical first aid kits and tourniquets to each frontline officer in Queensland.

“Without Boyd going to buy his own tourniquet this may have resulted in the death of a brave frontline general duties police officer.”

Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski stopped short of committing to the change, saying he was open to feedback and wanted the best equipment for his crews.

“I am committed to providing high quality equipment to our frontline police to ensure they have the necessary tools to protect themselves and the community,” Mr Gollschewski said.

“The annual Tactical First Aid Training undertaken by all officers and the provision of Tactical First Aid Kits in every operational police vehicle demonstrates the priority we place on ensuring we have the best training and equipment for our frontline workforce.

“I remain open to feedback about how we can improve the safety for our frontline responders and will always put their safety, and the safety of the community first.”

The QPS Organisational Capability Command is responsible for purchasing operational equipment, which ensures officers have the necessary equipment that is informed by research, trials, monitoring and evaluation.

The 26-year-old man remains in hospital in a critical condition.