Community pays tribute to brave, fallen police officers

Tributes from far and wide continue to flow for Wangaratta stationed police officers who lost their lives in a shooting at a Porepunkah property on Tuesday last week. Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, 59, on the eve of retirement and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart, 35, at the beginning of a fruitful career, were allegedly murdered in cold blood by Dezi Freeman, as police conducted a search warrant at his address on Rayner Track on the outskirts of Porepunkah around 10:30am. Heartfelt tributes have poured in locally, across the state and the country as people come to terms with the tragic event. Tables remain set out the front of Wangaratta Police Station and stations across the state, where growing tributes are being made by community members, who have laid flowers and sent the local force their sincere condolences. Colourings of Led Sen Const Thompson and Sen Const De Waart from children as young as three hung on the walls and a condolence book was filled with heartfelt community messages. Landmarks from Wangaratta’s own water tower, the Cube in Wodonga to the Shrine of Remembrance, Flinders Street Station and Parliament House in Melbourne have been glowing blue to honour the force. Emergency services assembled outside the Wangaratta Fire Station opposite the police station last Thursday night, with 10 local CFA and FRV appliances and 40 members observing two minutes silence. Wangaratta CFA captain Jason Allisey said it had been a sombre week for the local sister emergency services, as they supported their Victoria Police colleagues. He said many had worked with , Det Led Sen Const Thompsonwho was a “total community man”. Local businesses, clubs and community members have shared their condolences and personal experiences with Wangaratta detective of 18 years Neal Thompson, affectionately known as ‘Thommo’ through social media. Ineeta Café owner Anita Cook paid her respects on behalf of her staff to one of her most popular customers over the past 10 years. She said on Tuesday morning, ‘Thommo’ had arrived early to give her a scare, as he often would, and had time to have a couple of coffees and breakfast, telling her he had to go to Bright at around 9am for work. Tragically, he would not make it back. “I will relive those final conversations that morning for ever,” she said. “He was unique, heart of gold, larger than life, intimidating to some but still a softness without words. “He would sit quietly for hours reading the paper or engaging in conversation with locals that knew him. “We would chat about life, hunting, fishing, Nepal, adventures, his car, rock climbing, property, finances, Cooktown, his boat, jimmy, mangoes, smoked venison, work stories and lately all the things was going to do in his retirement. “I’m so sad he won’t get to live that life in retirement.” Det Led Sen Const Thompson had been part of Wangaratta’s Criminal Investigation Unit team since July 2007 and was planning in earnest for his imminent retirement. He loved getting out in nature, and his friends and colleagues regularly joined him on these trips. He had spent the past six years with the love of his life, Lisa, and had built a new home, with a long list of tasks planned after he knocked off work for the last time. Wangaratta City FC teams wore arm bands and observed a minute of silence prior to Saturday’s semi-finals at Savoy Park in Myrtleford to honour both officers. Det Led Sen Const Thompson was a long-time member of the club’s over 35s team and a member of North East Red Devils seniors team who played in the Masters circuit on a regular basis. In a club statement, his teammates say his favourite position was striker, and despite his size, he was remarkably quick on his feet. “He is fondly remembered by some of our current senior players as a leader and role model and he will be terribly missed,” it read. The Tallangatta Football Netball League had teams wearing armbands and observing a minute silence before all football matches at Sandy Creek over the weekend. Det Led Sen Const Thompson was a regular on the Beechworth junior football scene as step-father to Jobe and Eden, who played for the local under 12s and under 14s sides this season. Sen Const De Waart was on temporary assignment in Wangaratta and was a part of the Public Order Response Team since 2023. The Melbourne based policeman was extremely proud to have purchased his first home in recent years and travelling was his passion. Sen Const De Waart was fluent in French, Spanish, Flemish and English and completed scuba dives and motorcycling trips all around the world with his friends and colleagues. Deputy Commissioner Russell Barrett said the loss of his colleagues was devastating and hard to comprehend as he spoke to media at Wangaratta Police Station on Thursday. “One a 39-year veteran, loved by his local community, loved by his colleagues on the cusp of retirement,” he said. “A young man who is relevantly recent to our organisation and whose professionalism is all I hear about from his colleagues. “They were doing their job; they were doing what police do every day. “Every member of Victoria Police feel that and can put themselves in the shoes of our two colleagues and appreciate the risks they faced and appreciate just how simple a task they were doing.” Deputy Commissioner Barrett said it was heartening to see the outpouring support flow in from the community across the state, as a community member walked by him and the large press gathering on Thursday to lay flowers and pay his respects. “Police are the community and the community are the police, we feel that now. “We appreciate your support, we feel connected to the community and we will not rest until we apprehend the offender.” Full police honours for final farewells Funeral arrangements for Det Led Sen Const Thompson, 59, and Sen Const De Waart, 35, have been confirmed, with both men to receive full police honours. Det Led Sen Const Thompson will be farewelled on Monday, 8 September at 11am and Sen Const De Waart’s funeral is scheduled for Friday, 5 September. Both funerals will be held at the Victoria Police Academy in Melbourne and the services will not be open to the public. On Friday, Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush was joined by Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Police Anthony Carbines at Wangaratta Police Station to address media crammed into the station’s foyer. Premier Allan along with Minister Carbines laid a floral tribute at the station on behalf of the Victorian government to show their support to the local force in Wangaratta and the North East.

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