Who was Neal Thompson and Vadim De Waart? Two Officers Killed in the Porepunkah Shooting

Australia is mourning the deaths of two Victorian police officers who were killed in the line of duty during a violent incident in Porepunkah, a small town in northeast Victoria. The officers, Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart, lost their lives after suspected gunman Dezi Freeman allegedly opened fire with a homemade shotgun when police arrived to serve a warrant on Tuesday morning.

The shocking attack also left another officer injured and triggered a massive manhunt involving more than 100 police officers.

Who is Neal Thompson?

Neal Thompson, aged 59, was a highly respected detective from the Wangaratta CIU. He had dedicated almost four decades of his life to policing after joining Victoria Police in 1987.

• Neal worked in general duties at Collingwood Police Station for seven years.

• He later became a detective at the Major Fraud Squad and the State Crime Squad.

• In 2007, he began his long service at Wangaratta CIU, where he worked until his final days.

Tragically, Neal was only weeks away from retirement. Known as an outdoorsman and adventurer, he enjoyed hunting, exploring nature, and taking trips with friends and colleagues.

Police sources said Neal had previously interacted with Freeman and built some rapport with him. Because of that, Neal was chosen to serve the warrant at the suspect’s property. Sadly, he was the first officer to knock on the door and was allegedly ambushed and killed.

Neal is remembered as a loving partner to Lisa, with whom he had built a new home and planned to start the next chapter of his life in retirement.

Who is Vadim De Waart?

Vadim De Waart, aged 35, had a much shorter career but was already making a strong impact within Victoria Police. Originally from Belgium, Vadim joined the force in 2018. He started his career at St Kilda Police Station, working there for three years, before joining the Public Order Response Team (PORT) in 2023.

Vadim was fluent in English, French, and Dutch, and he was learning Spanish. His colleagues described him as an eternal optimist, avid traveller, and adventure seeker. He enjoyed scuba diving, motorcycling, public speaking, and collecting gin from around the world.

Just recently, Vadim had bought his first home in Melbourne and was looking forward to building his future there.

Vadim’s family is grieving across two continents. He is survived by his parents Carolina and Alain in Belgium, his younger brother Sacha in Switzerland, and extended family in Melbourne, including his aunty Jacqueline, uncles Shane and Peter, aunty Maria, and several cousins.

Vadim had only been seconded to northeast Victoria for one week when the fatal shooting happened.

A Heartbreaking Loss for Victoria Police

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush described their deaths as a “devastating loss” not only for the police force but also for the wider community of Victoria.

He reminded the public that every police officer takes a risk when they go to work to protect others. While they all know the dangers, “we never expect the worst to happen.”

Both Neal and Vadim are now remembered as dedicated officers who gave their lives in service to the community. Their loss has left a deep wound in the hearts of colleagues, friends, and loved ones.