Wangaratta memorial for two police officers killed in Porepunkah shooting
A memorial service was held in Wangaratta to honor two police officers, Neal Thompson and Vadim de Waart-Hottart, who were killed in a 2025 siege in Porepunkah. The event included the unveiling of a monument and reflections from police leadership.
Why it matters
Commemorating fallen officers is a significant event for law enforcement communities and the public, reflecting on the dangers of police work.
Lisa Thompson, the partner of Neal Thompson, lays a wreath at the memorial. ( ABC Goulburn Murray: Annie Brown )
The first of two memorial services to honour two officers killed in Porepunkah last year has been held in Wangaratta.
Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart were shot and killed during a siege at Porepunkah in Victoria's north-east in August 2025.
A second memorial will be held in Bright tomorrow to mark the one-year anniversary of their deaths.
Link copied Share Share article Two police officers who lost their lives in a dramatic siege in Porepunkah last year have been remembered at a service in Wangaratta ahead of the one-year anniversary of the shooting.
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