Brett Forte’s brother starts petition calling for mandatory tourniquets and tactical medical kits

The brother of a policeman murdered by a crazed gunman has started a petition calling for a big change to Queensland police.

The scene from Annerley.

• Editor’s view: Deeds not words

The brother of a policeman murdered by a crazed gunman has started a petition calling on the Queensland Police Service to make it mandatory for all officers to have personal issue tourniquets and tactical medical kits, after the shooting of an officer in Brisbane.

Luke Forte, whose brother Senior Constable Brett Forte was killed in the line of duty in 2017, launched the petition at the weekend after Acting Sergeant Liam Bailey was shot in the leg during a struggle with a 26-year-old man in Annerley on Friday.

Police said the agitated man ran at the officer with a plank of timber in the backyard of a property. His colleague, first-year constable Boyd Harrington-Karaitiana, shot the man twice, and then gave his personally purchased tourniquet to Sergeant Bailey rather than using the QPS-issued kit which was in their police car.

The late Brett Forte.

Queensland Police Union president Shane Prior said the timely use of the tourniquet saved the officer’s life and that the service should immediately issue all officers with their own personal tactical aid kits and tourniquets.

Luke Forte’s petition is seeking enhanced protection for officers and calls on the police service to make it mandatory for all frontline police to carry a personal-issue tourniquet and tactical medical kit.

Constable Forte was murdered by crazed gunman Ricky Maddison in May 2017.

“My brother served as a courageous frontline officer for the Queensland Police, putting his life on the line every day to protect the safety of others,” Mr Forte wrote.

“Unfortunately, his service ended in tragedy when he was fatally shot during duty.

“This profound personal loss underscores the dangerous nature of police work and the urgent need for enhanced protection and response equipment for all front line officers within Queensland.”

Luke Forte is calling for change. Picture: Jamie Hanson

Mr Forte said a study conducted by the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery had found immediate access to tourniquets could increase survival rates by nearly 90 per cent in tactical and non-tactical scenarios.

“I urge the Queensland government and police services to make it mandatory for all front line officers to carry a personal issue tourniquet and tactical medical kit,” he said.

More than 250 people had signed Mr Forte’s petition on Monday.

At the weekend, Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said he was committed to providing the best equipment for frontline police.

“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,” he said on Saturday.

“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.”

Originally published as Brett Forte’s brother starts petition calling for mandatory tourniquets and tactical medical kits