Grieving sisters sue police over officer deaths, citing neglect
The sisters of Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, one of two Victorian police officers tragically killed in Porepunkah last August, have initiated legal proceedings against Victoria Police, alleging negligence in the handling of the case. The move, confirmed by their lawyer Jeremy King, follows simmering frustration over what they describe as a profound lack of support and communication during a period of unimaginable grief.
A search warrant decision under scrutiny
The core of the negligence claim centers around Victoria Police’s decision not to deploy specialist forces during the execution of a search warrant against Dezi Freeman, the man accused of Thompson’s and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart’s murders. Freeman, who remained at large for seven months, was eventually shot dead in a remote property near Thologolong following a protracted manhunt.
The inquest, yet to be scheduled, will likely examine the operational decisions leading up to the fateful search warrant and the subsequent events. It’s a process that Thompson’s sisters, Dianne Thompson and Lois Kirk, say is long overdue, but one that cannot undo the pain and isolation they experienced.
'Invisible' in grief: a harrowing letter
A searing December letter penned by the sisters to Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush, and subsequently reported by Guardian Australia, paints a deeply distressing picture of neglect. They wrote of feeling “ignored” by the police force, lamenting the absence of adequate support or updates regarding Freeman's whereabouts. “We expected grief, we expected heartbreak, but we did not expect to feel invisible,” they stated, a sentiment that underscores the emotional toll beyond the immediate tragedy.
The sisters detailed a series of painful encounters, including being informed of their brother’s death via a phone call instead of in person, and the experience of attending the coroner's court unrecognized. “No one knew who I was,” one sister recounted, “I had to say the words myself – ‘my brother is dead, and I am his sister.’ That moment will stay with me forever.” They also highlighted the unsettling experience of being seated apart from other relatives at Thompson’s funeral.
Victoria Police, in a prepared statement, acknowledged the “incredibly difficult time” for the families and asserted that contact had been maintained with Thompson, de Waart-Hottart, and the third injured officer’s families. However, they conceded that issues were raised in the sisters’ letter and that direct meetings had taken place as a result. The statement also noted the challenges of balancing ongoing investigations with the need for timely updates, a justification that rings hollow given the depth of the sisters' distress.
But what's truly telling is the sisters’ insistence that their grief was compounded by a sense of abandonment, a feeling of being adrift in a system ostensibly dedicated to supporting those who have sacrificed for the community. It’s a stark reminder that policing isn’t solely about enforcing the law; it's about upholding a sense of trust and providing solace in moments of profound loss.
The price of protocol
The sisters' lawsuit isn’t solely about financial compensation; it’s a demand for accountability and a recognition of the human cost of bureaucratic rigidity. Whether the inquest will fully address these concerns remains to be seen.
The sisters' letter concluded not with anger, but with a poignant expression of pride in their brother’s service and a heartfelt plea for understanding. “Our grief is heavy, but it is made heavier by how alone we have felt in it.” The legal action serves as an unsettling indictment of a system that, in its pursuit of justice, seemingly forgot the basic tenets of human compassion.