Community continues salute to brave, fallen police

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. 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 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 are 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 planned to rally at the station at 7pm Thursday, with 10 local CFA and FRV appliances and 40 members set to turn on their lights and sirens at Wangaratta police station to honour the force. 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. 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. “The tributes, the flowers, the notes, the comments, not just here in Wangaratta but across the community just let us know we are a part of the community,” he said. “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 and keep them safe.”

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