National Police Remembrance Day service honours officers killed in line of duty

Police officers have marched through Canberra to honour those who have died in the line of duty at a moving National Police Remembrance Day service.

Crowds gathered on the edge of Lake Burley Griffin for the ceremony, where four new names were enshrined on the National Police Memorial.

A sombre ceremony

Flags at the National Police Memorial in Canberra were flown at half-mast for the remembrance day service. A solemn procession of about 300 officers on foot, horseback, and motorbikes made the pilgrimage from the Australian Federal Police headquarters to the memorial.

Governor-General Sam Mostyn, who spoke at the ceremony, said the officers were killed in "despicable circumstances" while carrying out their duties.

"These few stories tell only a tiny part of four remarkable lives," Ms Mostyn said.

Tributes to fallen officers

The new touchstones displaying the names of four officers were added to the National Police Memorial in advance of the ceremony on Tuesday afternoon. They include slain Victoria Police Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart, who were gunned down by Dezi Freeman at Porepunkah in the state's northeast in August 2025.

Victoria Police Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson was one of two officers fatally shot by Dezi Freeman in Porepunkah in 2025.

Western Australia Detective Senior Constable Maxine Bembridge, who died in May after a crash on her way to work, and retired New South Wales Sergeant Mark Bransgrove, who died from cancer attributed to his service, have also been remembered.

A day of mourning

Acting AFP Commissioner Ian McCartney said it was a day of mourning and a chance to pay tribute to "the selfless and the brave".

"I can see that there are loved ones and colleagues here who were not here last year, and we know what that means," he said.

"We will share the burden of grief with you, and importantly, we will share the incredible and inspiring lives of those who will live forever as heroes in our country."

Tributes to Constable Mia Lay

There were also tributes for Sydney Constable Mia Lay, who was killed in a police car crash last week.

"Mia was 20 years old, a tender young age, and had only served with the New South Wales Police Force for 16 months," Ms Mostyn said.

"Her parents and partner have spoken about how much she loved being a police officer."

Acting Commissioner McCartney said her death was "heartbreaking" and cast a long shadow over the proceedings.

"It is another example of the arbitrary cruelty of service when our members are taken from us too young and too soon," he said.

A growing memorial

In the 20 years since the National Police Memorial was unveiled, 117 names have been added. Constable Lay's name is expected to be formally added to the National Police Memorial next year. This year marks two decades since the monument was unveiled in Canberra. Since then, the number of names inscribed has grown from 719 to 836.