Wangaratta’s thoughts and prayers have been with our men and women in blue for the past two weeks, and today will be particularly challenging.
Veteran Wangaratta Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson will be farewelled, with full police honours, at a funeral service at the Victorian Police Academy in Melbourne this morning.
A large contingent of colleagues from Wangaratta and district have made the solemn journey this morning to honour the respected officer, who served our community and the wider North East with distinction over almost two decades.
The circumstances of his death, and that of colleague Senior Constable Vadim De Waart-Hottart who was laid to rest on Friday, continue to mortify our community and shock Australia.
‘Thommo’ as he was affectionately known by many, upheld the virtues law abiding citizens in our community value.
Latest Stories
He was there doing a difficult job, and his and Sen Const Vadim De Waart-Hottart’s tragic deaths are a painful reminder of how officers put their lives on the line to protect our society.
As we went to press Sunday evening, the man police are hunting for the death’s of both officers, and injury to a third officer, was still at large.
Victoria Police are now offering a $1 million reward for information that leads to the arrest of the fugitive gunman Dezi Freeman.
The bounty adds to police’s continuing public plea to pass on any information, no matter how small, to Crime Stoppers (1800 333 000), that may assist in locating and bringing the fugitive into custody.
We all hope for a resolution.
