Sisters Sue Police Over Officer's Death

0:00The sisters of slain Victoria Police Officer, Neil Thompson, are gearing up to sue the force over his death last year. Thompson was shot by Desi Freeman during a search warrant execution at a property in Poropunca on August 26. Their lawyers confirmed the plans, pointing to the decision not to deploy specialist tactical teams for the job. That raid turned deadly fast, with Thompson and another officer, senior constable Vadim Duarte-Hardart killed and a third wounded. Freeman, who called himself a sovereign citizen, bolted into the bush, triggering Australia's biggest police manhunt ever. It wrapped up three days ago when he was fatally shot after a three-hour standoff near Thola Golong. The sisters, Diane Thompson and Lois Kirk, have been vocal about feeling let down by police. Late last year, they wrote to Chief Commissioner Mike Bush, saying they felt abandoned and invisible after the news came via phone call instead of in. They were also upset about the funeral, where families stood while others got priority seating.

1:03Police have responded by meeting with the sisters since December and assigning liaison officers from the homicide squad in local area. They're providing updates on the investigation and support for memorials while balancing the needs of ongoing probes. This case highlights the raw pain behind the badges and the push for accountability as these families seek closure. That's the story for today. Sydney News Today, Driven by AI