'Remarkable lives': Slain police officers honoured in Canberra - ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Flags at the National Police Memorial in Canberra were flown at half-mast for National Police Remembrance Day. (ABC News: Monte Bovill)

Police officers have marched through Canberra to honour those who have died in the line of duty.

Crowds gathered on the edge of Lake Burley Griffin for the 2026 National Police Remembrance Day service.

Four new names have been enshrined on the National Police Memorial.

Police officers who died in the line of duty have been honoured at an emotional service in Canberra for National Police Remembrance Day.

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. (ABC News: Monte Bovill)

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

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.

Officers marched from AFP headquarters to the National Police Memorial on the edge of Lake Burley Griffin.  (Supplied: Australian Federal Police)

A solemn procession of about 300 officers on foot, horseback, and motorbikes made the pilgrimage from the Australian Federal Police headquarters to the memorial.

Tearful family members laid wreaths at the national monument at the edge of Lake Burley Griffin.

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

Family members of officers killed in the line of duty attended the National Police Remembrance Day service. (ABC News: Ian Cutmore)

"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.

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

Governor-General Sam Mostyn paid tribute to New South Wales Constable Mia Lay, who died in a police car crash last week. (ABC News: Ian Cutmore)

"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.

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.

In the 20 years since the National Police Memorial was unveiled, 117 names have been added. (ABC News: Ian Cutmore)

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 to 719 to 836.