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Those who assisted police killer Dezi Freeman to evade authorities have been put on notice, with Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush saying “we know exactly who they are”.
Speaking on the first anniversary of the deaths of veteran detective Neal Thompson and rising star Vadim de Waart-Hottart, Bush said Taskforce Summit would have “more to say” about the ongoing investigation into Freeman’s accomplices.
“Those people know exactly who they are, and we know exactly who they are. We are working through the evidence to ensure that they are held to account,” Bush said.
Five people have been arrested and released since Freeman was shot dead by police in March, after he managed to evade authorities for seven months.
Thompson, who was 59, and de Wart-Hottart, who was 35, were among 10 officers last August who were ambushed when they served a warrant on Freeman in Porepunkah as part of a child sexual abuse investigation.
Bush said the evidence police had gathered during initial investigations into allegations of child abuse “has grown”, and police had sourced “extra technical evidence” since August 26 last year. “We know from the investigations we have conducted prior to that day and post that day, when we say alleged paedophile, it’s based on evidence,” he said.
When asked if he expected further arrests to be made, Bush said: “That’s exactly what Taskforce Summit are working towards.
“That people who help and aid a brutal, cold-blooded murderer of police officers, and an alleged paedophile, is held to account [is the job of the taskforce],” he said.
Two mosaics, one of Thompson with his beloved dog Jimmy and one of De Waart-Hottart, were unveiled at a commemoration at Bright Police Station, in Victoria’s high country, on Wednesday.
The murals sit high on the wall, watching over the foyer of the police station. A further memorial and garden was also officially opened, with blue-and-white ribbon mosaics attached to stones that bear the officers’ names and badge numbers.
Hundreds gathered under sunshine and blue skies to honour their colleagues and family members.
De Waart-Hottart’s aunt and Thompson’s girlfriend, Sergeant Lisa Thompson, could be seen embracing after the emotional service.
Addressing the crowd, Acting Commander Justin Schultz said he first met Thompson not long after he arrived in Wangaratta in 2007.
“He just wanted to be a policeman like his pop,” he said.
Commander in state emergencies and public order response Peta Barrett said De Waart-Hottart was a devoted police officer.
He was also close with his parents and younger brother, who live overseas, she said.
“He was kind, he was genuine, he was compassionate, he listened, he cared,” she said. “He took time to connect with people.”
An additional memorial service was held on Tuesday at Wangaratta Police Station, where Thompson served for about 20 years.
Premier Ben Carroll is in Sydney and could not attend the service. Police Minister Paul Edbrooke attended the service in Bright, as did opposition police spokesman Brad Battin.
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