A police officer who survived a shooting in Annerley earlier this year has spoken candidly about how the incident changed his life and sparked a major safety initiative for Queensland police.
Acting Sergeant Liam Bailey and First Year Constable Boyd Harrington-Karaitiana were responding to reports of a disturbance on Tamar Street on 10 January when the situation escalated dramatically. The officers had been called to the scene after receiving reports of an agitated man in a backyard who was armed with a piece of timber.
During the confrontation, Acting Sergeant Bailey was shot in the leg with his own service weapon by the 26-year-old man, before Constable Harrington-Karaitiana shot the offender twice in response. The injured officer described the moment he heard the gunshot, initially hoping it had come from his partner’s weapon rather than his own.
Acting Sergeant Bailey credited his colleague’s quick thinking and preparedness with saving his life. Constable Harrington-Karaitiana immediately threw him a tourniquet, which proved crucial in stemming the bleeding from what turned out to be a severe wound.
The bullet travelled through the officer’s upper leg, continuing down behind his knee before lodging in bone behind his calf muscle. The injury damaged several muscles and bone, but Acting Sergeant Bailey has since returned to active duty, though he continues to experience daily pain and some loss of feeling in his leg.
Speaking about the incident in an interview with Queensland Police Union president Shane Prior, Acting Sergeant Bailey reflected on how routine the job had seemed initially. He described it as the type of call officers attend multiple times each week, highlighting how quickly such situations can become life-threatening.
The shooting has had far-reaching consequences beyond the immediate injuries. In February, the Queensland Government announced a $5.399 million investment to provide 12,500 tactical first aid kits to frontline police officers over the next five years. According to government statements, this initiative ensures all operational frontline officers will be supplied with personal-issue tactical first aid kits.
Acting Sergeant Bailey welcomed this development, comparing the importance of first aid equipment to other essential police gear. He noted that while first aid kits were available in police vehicles, officers don’t typically think to collect them before attending routine calls.
The 26-year-old Acacia Ridge man allegedly responsible for the shooting, identified as Tyson Daniel Athman, faces multiple serious charges. These include two counts each of attempted murder, trespass, and wilfully assaulting a police officer, as well as charges for serious assault by biting, unlawful entry, assault occasioning bodily harm, and railway trespass.
Despite the trauma and ongoing physical effects of the incident, Acting Sergeant Bailey expressed gratitude that he was the one injured rather than his younger colleague. His experience has become a catalyst for improving officer safety across Queensland, potentially preventing similar tragedies in the future.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable dangers faced by police officers during what appear to be routine calls, while also highlighting the importance of proper training, equipment, and partnership between officers in critical situations.
Published 2-August-2025
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