The family of a police officer killed by Dezi Freeman has announced plans to file a lawsuit against Victoria Police, accusing the department of exacerbating their grief through poor communication practices.
Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, aged 59, was one of two officers who tragically lost their lives during a raid on Freeman’s bus near Porepunkah in north-east Victoria on August 26.
Alongside him, Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart was also shot and killed, while another officer suffered serious injuries.
For the first time since the tragic event, Senior Constable Thompson’s sisters, Dianne Thompson and Lois Kirk, have come forward publicly, criticizing police leadership for their handling of the situation in the aftermath of their brother’s death.
Victoria Police has responded by stating that ongoing discussions are being held with the sisters to address their concerns.
The sisters express their declining confidence in Victoria Police, stating it began to erode almost immediately after they were informed of Senior Constable Thompson’s death through a phone call rather than a personal visit, and they assert that communication continued to deteriorate over time.
‘We have been under extreme emotional stress and trauma since our big brother Neal was shot and killed on August 26,’ Dianne Thompson told the Herald Sun.
‘The grief alone is bad enough, but to be completely ignored by Victoria Police from the day Neal died to now is beyond comprehension.’
The sisters allege they were not kept updated on key developments, were not offered the chance to travel to Porepunkah in the days after the shooting, and felt marginalised during their brother’s funeral and later memorial events.
Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, 59, was one of two officers killed during a raid on Freeman’s bus near Porepunkah, in north-east Victoria, on August 26
Freeman (pictured) was shot dead by police on March 30 after being on the run for 216 days
They said they learned Freeman had been shot dead last week, after being on the run for 216 days, not from police, but through their lawyer after missed calls.
In a detailed letter sent to Chief Commissioner Mike Bush in December, the sisters outlined what they described as ongoing neglect, including being unaware of memorial services and being unable to collect their brother’s ashes.
‘His loss has left a permanent fracture in our family, in our daily lives, and in the fabric of who we are,’ they wrote.
‘We expected grief, we expected heartbreak, but we did not expect to feel invisible.’
They described being seated away from close family members at Senior Constable Thompson’s funeral and said they were forced to introduce themselves to senior political figures in attendance.
‘We had to approach the Prime Minister and the Premier ourselves, as they did not know who we were,’ Dianne said.
The sisters, represented by police accountability lawyer Jeremy King, will take part in a forthcoming coronial inquest into the deaths of the two officers.
At the time of the fatal raid, Freeman was living in a bus and was the subject of a warrant over alleged historical sex offences, despite being banned from owning firearms.
Lois Kirk (pictured) and Diane Thompson (behind) are set to sue the Victoria Police
Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson (pictured) was shot dead by Freeman
Thompson was shot as he climbed through a window, before Freeman turned his weapon on Senior Constable de Waart‑Hottart.
Victoria Police told Daily Mail the past seven months had been ‘an incredibly difficult time’ following the incident at Porepunkah, particularly for the families of the two officers who were killed.
Police said they had been in contact with the families since the incident and had taken steps to keep them informed while ensuring support services were in place.
The statement said the Chief Commissioner had spoken directly on multiple occasions with Thompson’s partner, the parents of Senior Constable de Waart‑Hottart, and the officer seriously injured during the August 26 incident.
Victoria Police also acknowledged concerns raised by Senior Constable Thompson’s sisters and confirmed officers had met with them following correspondence sent to the Chief Commissioner.
Police said liaison officers from the Homicide Squad and the local area had been appointed to provide updates on the investigation and support around welfare and memorial events.
‘While every effort is made to provide timely updates to all families involved, we are always conscious of the need to manage ongoing investigations,’ the statement said.
Victoria Police said discussions with the sisters were continuing, but it would not be appropriate to provide further details.
