A REWARD worth half a million dollars has been announced to help crack Australia's only unsolved police shooting investigation, after the attempted murder of a police officer in Logan 21 years ago.
Assistant Commissioner Michael Condon said about 8.30am on March 24, 1999, two men forced entry to a bank in Browns Plains and held the customers and staff at gunpoint.
A pair of officers, including Neil Scutts, now a senior constable, rushed to the scene.
Moments after arriving, Senior Constable Scutts said he was raising his hands when he was shot by one of the robbers.
The bullet entered through his groin and exited via his buttocks.
He immediately fell to the ground.
The men also shot at the other officer, who had moved to the back of the building, narrowly missing him but hitting the rear window and showering him with glass.
The offenders fled on foot, taking two staff members as hostages.
On reaching Browns Plains Road, they stole a car at gunpoint. It was later abandoned at Park Ridge.
The offenders were wearing off-white plastic masks, surgical style gloves and were carrying two-way radios.
Senior Constable Scutts underwent emergency surgery.
The bullet had missed major arteries by millimetres.
Assistant Commissioner Michael Condon said Senior Constable Scutts was lucky to be alive.
His gun, a Sturm Ruger .357 six-shot revolver which was stolen during the robbery, is yet to be recovered.
An initial reward of $100,000 was upped to $250,000 in 2004, but has today been boosted to $500,000.
Assistant Commissioner Condon said police hoped the increased reward and passage of time would finally lead to an arrest in the case.
"There are now 500,000 reasons for someone to come forward," Assistant Commissioner Condon said.
"On the day, the police officers were just doing their job, responding to a very serious incident - trying to keep the community safe.
"The community expects these cowardly acts to be fully investigated and these offenders brought to justice no matter how long it takes. Police will never give up and we have new information that is very promising.
"We urge anyone who may have any information in relation to this matter to come forward and contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000."
In addition to the increased reward, which remains at the Police Commissioner's discretion, an appropriate indemnity from prosecution will be recommended for any accomplice, not being the person who actually committed the crime, who first gives such information.