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Slain cops honoured one year after Porepunkah
Hundreds gathered as police unveiled two memorials and a memorial garden, while Commissioner Mike Bush said Victoria Police will carry the officers’ legacies forward.
- On Tuesday, hundreds gathered outside Wangaratta Police Station as police unveiled two memorials for Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart, who were killed in Porepunkah one year ago.
- Thompson and de Waart-Hottart were fatally shot on August 26, 2025, while serving a warrant on Dezi Freeman at his remote property during a child sexual abuse investigation involving ten officers.
- Two 3-tonne obelisks sourced from Barjarg form the Wangaratta memorial, while a local mosaic artist created full-colour portraits of the fallen officers; another plaque will be unveiled in Bright on Wednesday.
- Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush stated the force would "never forget our colleagues who made that ultimate sacrifice," while family members described the past 12 months as the "longest and hardest period" of their lives.
- Freeman remained at large for seven months before being killed in a shootout in March 2026, while inquests into the August 2025 shootings and the gunman's final standoff remain pending to address unanswered questions.
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‘Nothing will fill the hole’: Families of slain officers reveal anguish one year on from Porepunkah tragedy
The families of two Victoria Police officers murdered at Porepunkah say they have endured “hell” and “incredible grief” as they unite to mark the one-year anniversary of the Alpine tragedy.
·Southbank, Australia
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Sydney Morning Herald+3 Reposted by 3 other sources
Batman socks, a dog fountain, a cafe corner: Quiet tributes for two fallen officers
The police officers who walked into Dezi Freeman’s ambush a year ago today say they didn’t know what they were walking into. But they had two of their best with them.
·North Sydney, Australia
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources7
Leaning Left4Leaning Right1Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution57% Left
Bias Distribution
- 57% of the sources lean Left
57% Left
L 57%
C 29%
14%
Factuality
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