Family, friends and colleagues are gathering to honour the veteran officer killed in the line of duty just days from his retirement, as the search for his alleged killer continues.
Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson is being farewelled with full police honours at a funeral at the Victoria Police Academy on Monday September 8, 2025.
The 59-year-old was one of two Victoria Police officers killed on August 26 while serving a warrant on Dezi Freeman at a property in Porepunkah, about 300 kilometres north-east of Melbourne.
Thompson had been looking forward to spending more time with the love of his life, Lisa, and was ready with a list of things he hoped to achieve in his downtime.
His partner, with whom he built a home, will be among the mourners expected to fill the on-site chapel at the academy in Melbourne’s east later on September 8 to remember the man affectionately known as Thommo.
State police union boss Wayne Gatt paid tribute to Thompson, saying he deserved the life he had planned after his years on the job.
“That, after 38 years in the job and on the cusp of retirement, he made the decision to put others before himself, is a measure of the man we’ve lost,” Gatt said.
“Neal was often the light side of an at-times dark profession. A character, a mainstay and a comfort to many.”
Victoria Police honoured their fallen hero on Facebook with a post that received hundreds of touching comments.
“Thank you for bringing so brave and to protect us all. Sad you didn’t get to enjoy a retirement ! Blessings and best wishes to his family. Work mates and friends.” One person wrote.
“Neal assisted me during perhaps the most traumatic event of my life. I am deeply grateful for his and other officers support leading up to and throughout the court proceedings, which resulted in a conviction and I was then able to begin my healing. Thank you for your service to your community Neal, you made a world of difference to many.” Another added.
“Thommo. It was great to play sport as kids, work the van together and man carry you up hills on selection. Great memories of a great bloke.” A third wrote.
Thompson, a laid-back adventurer who loved the great outdoors, regularly spent time in nature with friends and colleagues.
He joined the police in 1987 and worked his way up to detective in the major fraud squad and the state crime squad, before moving to Wangaratta in 2007 to join the crime investigation unit.
Uniformed officers will form a guard of honour after the funeral service, as they did on September 5 for Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart, who also died in the same incident.
An estimated 3,000 mourners attended the 34-year-old’s funeral, triple the number expected.
The pair’s alleged killer remains at large, having fled into bushland nearly two weeks ago. Hundreds of officers continue to search for him in Victoria’s high country.
Victoria Police on Saturday announced a $1 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Freeman, 56. He has not been seen since ambushing police at his rural property almost a fortnight ago.
It is the largest reward in Victoria’s history offered for an arrest rather than a conviction.
Images: Facebook