The coffin of police officer Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart is carried from from the Victoria Police Academy chapel following his funeral service in Melbourne. Photo: WILLIAM WEST / AFP
A Victoria Police officer killed in a shooting in Victoria's northeast last week has been described as a "hero" with a "contagious smile".
About 3000 people gathered for a funeral for Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart at the Victoria Police Academy in the Melbourne suburb of Glen Waverley.
His brother, Sacha de Waart-Hottart, urged the packed police chapel to remember Vadim for "how he lived, not how he died".
"He was my very own superhero, he was my Batman."
The 34-year-old was among a group of 10 police officers serving a warrant for historical sex offences at a rural property in Porepunkah when he was shot and killed last Tuesday.
Alleged gunman Dezi Freeman fled into dense bushland on foot, sparking an enormous manhunt involving hundreds of police officers that is now in its eleventh day.
The late senior constable was remembered as an upbeat adventurer who constantly sought out new experiences and loved the outdoors and to travel.
Dezi Freeman. Photo: ABC / Supplied
Friends and family described him as the kind of person who was always happy, smiling and trying to make others laugh.
Multiple speakers mentioned Senior Constable de Waart-Hottart's piercing blue eyes, while colleagues recalled his passion for police work and the pride he took in the job.
Senior Constable de Waart-Hottart has now been awarded four police medals for his service, including the Victoria Police Star, a medal for those killed in the line of duty.
The others are the Victoria Police Service Medal, the National Police Service Medal and the National Medal.
Former housemate and fellow police officer Tali Walker-Davidson was among those to share her reflections about "Vad", as she referred to him.
She fondly told stories that made her and other officers laugh, such as when he wore Batman socks to work - unperturbed he could be told off about it.
Constable Walker-Davidson described her friend as "upbeat", "quick-witted", "honest" and "hilarious".
Chief Commissioner Mike Bush also paid tribute to Senior Constable de Waart-Hottart, describing him as one of the force's "finest officers".
"Nothing will compensate for this loss but Vadim's record of service will also reflect that he has been awarded the Victoria Police Star," Commissioner Bush said.
"They are in recognition, not just of the six years that he served us and his community, but acknowledging the years that he would have given had he been allowed."
The senior constable died alongside 59-year-old Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, who will be farewelled at a separate police funeral on Monday.
Placed on the the funeral altar was a small statue of Batman, who mourners were told was the senior constable's childhood hero, because he loved to help people.
"My brother has always been my hero, my protector," Sacha de Waart-Hottart said.
"Then when we grew up and I didn't need his protecting anymore, my brother found 23,000 new brothers and sisters in blue to keep protecting, and he found a way to continue helping everyone he could."
Senior Constable de Waart-Hottart's mother and father, who live in Belgium, attended the service.
Family and friends watched the service online from around the world, including Belgium, the Netherlands and England.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan and Victoria's Police Minister Anthony Carbines attended.
Allan, who sat in the front row, became visibly emotional during the service.
In a statement released ahead of the funeral, Wayne Gatt from the Police Association Victoria said the senior constable's death was "an indescribable injustice and a tragedy".
"You wore the uniform with honour and you represented it with kindness, compassion and a just heart," Gatt said.
"To your loving family both here and abroad, we want you to know that your loss is shared by the policing family, colleagues and friends of Vadim and an eternally grateful Victorian community."
Vadim de Waart-Hottart. Photo: Victoria Police / supplied
Senior Constable de Waart-Hottart's coffin was draped in an Australian flag and was taken from the chapel with full honours.
Hundreds of police officers, including mounted police, lined the streets as the formal procession left the Victoria Police Academy.
The chapel was also lit up in blue overnight as a mark of respect, flags were lowered to half mast and floral tributes lined the academy's gates.
Victoria Police said the chapel could normally accommodate 500 people but additional areas had been opened up to accommodate more than 3000 people.
Senior Constable de Waart-Hottart served with Victoria Police for seven years.
He was fluent in English, French, Spanish and Flemish, had travelled around the world and was on secondment in regional Victoria when he was killed, according to an obituary released by Victoria Police.
He is survived by parents, his younger brother who lives in Switzerland and extended family in Melbourne.
- ABC News
