QUEENSLAND has lost one of its finest with the death of Gold Coast detective Damian Leeding, Premier Anna Bligh says.

Ms Bligh said the death of the officer, after being shot during an armed hold-up on Sunday, demonstrated the dangers police put themselves in every day to safeguard the community.

The detective senior constable's family made the heartbreaking decision to turn off his life support system on Wednesday.

He died shortly afterwards at the Gold Coast Hospital, with his family by his side.

“This is a decision no family should have to make and my heart goes out to Damian's wife and children and his extended family,” Ms Bligh said in a statement.

“Any death is a tragedy, but the death of a police officer while he is responding to a crime and attempting to help those in danger is particularly devastating.

”I'm truly saddened that we have lost one of our frontline police officers in this way.”

Ms Bligh said she had spoken to Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson and Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers and both organisations would be offering ongoing support to the Leeding family.

Queensland Police Minister Neil Roberts urged people who wanted to show their support for the family and the police service to buy a blue ribbon from any police station.

Proceeds from the sale of the ribbons go to Police Legacy, which supports the families of police officers who have died in the line of duty.

Two men and a woman have been charged over the armed hold-up at the Pacific Pines Tavern, and with Det Leeding's attempted murder.

Those charges are likely to be upgraded with his passing.