Police name slain officers as search for suspected gunman continues

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Flags are at half-mast at police stations throughout Victoria and public buildings will be lit-up in blue tonight as tributes flow for the two fallen officers.

Transcript

00:00Remembered by their community and their colleagues.

00:07Dozens of officers attended an impromptu service at the Victoria Police Memorial in Melbourne

00:13this morning to pay tribute.

00:16Born and raised in Belgium, 35-year-old senior constable Vadim Devart joined the force seven

00:23years ago and had been with the Public Order Response Team since 2023.

00:28Detective-leading senior constable Neil Thompson was 59, a 38-year veteran of the force who'd

00:36recently built a new home and was planning his retirement.

00:40They were both stationed in Wangaratta, where today community members young and old left

00:46floral tributes.

00:47They're not just colleagues, they're mates, make no mistake, they're mates, they shared

00:52time in and out of work with these people and they love them.

00:56Victoria's Police Minister fought back tears to pay tribute in Parliament.

01:01What would we do without them?

01:04So when you see them, you should thank them.

01:06It's very inspiring to see them make that commitment on behalf of all Victorians.

01:11St Matthews Church in Albury changed the focus of today's service to remember the fallen policemen.

01:18They're not forgotten that we are one community and also that the injury to the police force

01:23is an injury to all of us.

01:25Blue and white ribbons attached to the century old fence of the church.

01:29It makes you feel sick, just the thought that they're running, just doing their job and

01:35this has happened to them.

01:36Wodonga's police station framed by tokens of gratitude.

01:40I just feel quite gutted actually that it's happened in our area because it just puts more

01:47pressure on the community.

01:51The officer who was shot in the leg has had surgery and is recovering in hospital.

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