National Police Remembrance Day marks one of the most significant days in the policing calendar, giving police a chance to pay tribute to those killed on the job.
Victorian police officers Neal Thompson and Vadim de Waart-Hottart were gunned down in the small town of Porepunkah on August 26 while trying to carry out a search warrant.
Leading Senior Constable Thompson, a Victoria Police veteran of 38 years, was just a week away from retiring.
Hundreds of their colleagues are still involved in the search for Dezi Freeman, who is accused of firing the gun weapon that killed the men.
The families of the slain officers will attend a service at the police memorial in Melbourne's St Kilda Road on Monday.
Their names will be added to the national police memorial in 2026.
"When a police officer is killed in the line of duty the impact is felt across every force in Australia," Victorian police chief Mike Bush said.
"This includes the recent devastating loss of Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart," he said.
"They are deeply missed by us all.
"The bravery, service and commitment of our police to wear the uniform despite the daily risks of the job can never be underestimated."
Another 11 police, protective service officers, police custody officers and police chaplains who died through illness and other circumstances will also be recognised in the Victorian commemorations.
Another touchstone to be added to the national memorial is that of decorated Tasmania Police Constable Keith Anthony Smith, who was shot dead while attending a private home on frontline duties in North Motton, Tasmania in June.
A man remains before the courts, charged with murdering Constable Smith who was an experienced and well-respected officer with 25 years' experience.
He received the Commissioner's Medal in 2011 and a 20-year clasp in 2021, as well as the National Police Service Medal in 2016.
A Tasmanian contingent including Commissioner Donna Adams and the fallen constable's family will attend the national ceremony in Canberra.
At the Wall of Remembrance in Sydney, acting NSW police commissioner Peter Thurtell said "the force still felt the loss of three of our interstate colleagues".The three deaths brought home "the dangers that police across Australia face every day", he said.
The state is adding the 2019 suicide of veteran Casino police officer Stephen Nixon to the wall, which the commissioner described as "a solemn tribute to courage, sacrifice and service".
Premier Chris Minns also paid tribute to police accountant Curtis Cheng who was gunned down 10 years ago by a radicalised Islamist teenager outside police headquarters in Parramatta.
In Queensland, 97-year-old Trevor Price will pay tribute to his late grandfather, Constable Albert Price, who was murdered in 1905 at just 29.
Though more than a century has passed since his death, Constable Price's story tugs at the hears of all police and community members as it's an example of a routine patrol that turned to tragedy,
Remembrance Day events will be held across the country, including a march from AFP Headquarters to a service at the police memorial in Parkes, ACT.
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