Cairns Central stabbing survivor awarded police valour medal
A Queensland police officer who was almost killed has been commended for bravery after being stabbed six times and left for dead in the stairwell of a Cairns shopping centre.
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A Queensland police officer who was almost killed has been commended for bravery after being stabbed six times and left for dead in the stairwell of a Cairns shopping centre.
February 16, 2021 was just an ordinary day for Senior Constable Tim Liesegang, who was on patrol at Cairns Central, but at 2.15pm his life changed forever.
To cover more ground, Sergeant Oliver Oldfield and Senior Constable Liesegang split up to hunt for a wanted man on the loose within the McLeod St mall.
It was when Senior Constable Liesegang found the wanted man, Jack Clarence Smith, hiding in a fire escape stairwell that events took a turn.
“He was not backed into a corner, he knows the procedures, he knows what happens, and he just thought he’d have a crack,” Senior Constable Liesegang said.
Smith resisted arrest and produced a knife with a 12cm blade, stabbing the police officer in the jaw, twice in the right lung, in his hip, and finger.
“I had already been stabbed four times on the ground, and then when we got up, he was there and just went straight through me,” he said.
Bleeding profusely the officer managed to broadcast an urgent radio transmission which activated an exceptional police and civilian response.
Smith was arrested after 23 minutes at the Bungalow Hotel while Senior Constable Liesegang was rushed to Cairns Hospital where his wife and nurse Caroline Liesegang was on shift.
Medical teams went to work and treated the Cairns cop for a collapsed lung. Physically he was soon out the woods but the psychological trauma would take much longer to heal.
“It’s been a struggle getting back into it, getting back into something that you can enjoy without having to put yourself out there and not know what decision you’re going to make,” he said.
The officer considered leaving the police service and trying something new but in the end took a role in the police property office, which he said suits him perfectly.
After losing so much blood, the many people that helped save Senior Constable Liesegang life four years ago were just “blurry faces” in his memory, but now the father-of-two was fully aware of the large-scale response to his medical emergency.
Cairns Central maintenance supervisor Alan Burt heard the radio call for assistance and provided first aid before sending critical information to additional crews and he also co-ordinated additional medical aid.
“You don’t realise how many people are involved till you step back,” Constable Liesegang said.
“And (at the ceremony) there was a big showing on how many people got up and actually did a great job.
“It was very humbling.”
In a ceremony in Cairns on February 19, Senior Constable Liesegang was presented the Queensland Police Service Valour Medal and Queensland Police Blue Heart Medal, in recognition of his exceptional bravery and conduct.
Sergeant Oliver Oldfield was awarded the Commissioner’s Certificate for Notable Action, for administering immediate first aid to his colleague.
Senior Constable Naomi Allen and former plain clothes Senior Constable Jordan Gage were also awarded the Commissioner’s Certificate for Notable Action, for their outstanding response to the incident.
Mr Burt’s extraordinary assistance to police was greatly appreciated and he was honoured for his exceptional support with the Commissioner’s Certificate last month.
Kristie Sorrell-Dunnett was awarded the Commissioner’s Certificate after noticing the unusual behaviour of the offender.
She captured images as he ran from the shopping centre in a vehicle which were used to help track Smith to the venue where he was later arrested.
In 2022, Smith was sentenced to nine years’ prison and he will be eligible for parole on February 16, 2026.
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Originally published as Cairns Central stabbing survivor awarded police valour medal
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