National Police Remembrance Day today (29 September, 2026) will mark the addition of four fallen police officers to the National Police Memorial in Canberra.
The names and ranks of the fallen have been engraved on touchstone plaques, adding to the 832 members already enshrined.
This year, we pay tribute to:
Maxine Bembridge
On 10 May, 2026, Western Australia Police Force Detective Senior Constable Maxine Bembridge died as a result of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle collision.
Mark Bransgrove
On 7 July, 2025, NSW Police Force Sergeant Mark Bransgrove died from a medical condition as a result of his duties.
Neal Thompson
On 26 August, 2025, Victoria Police Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson was fatally shot when serving a high-risk warrant at a property in Porepunkah, North-East Victoria.
Vadim De Waart-Hottart
On 26 August, 2025, Victoria Police Senior Constable Vadim De Waart-Hottart was also shot and killed during the warrant at Porepunkah.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the National Police Memorial.
National Police Remembrance Day honours officers from jurisdictions across Australia and the South-West Pacific region who have been killed in the line of duty, or as a result of their duties.
Representatives from all state and territory police jurisdictions will attend.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush will read the Honour Roll of the fallen, and Western Australia Police Commissioner Col Blanch will read the Police Ode.
About 300 police officers will march over Kings Avenue Bridge ahead of the service, where about 600 police officers, members, families and members of the public are expected to attend. About 40 wreaths and floral tributes will be laid at the National Memorial during the service.
AFP Deputy Commissioner Ian McCartney said the heartbreaking death of NSW Police Force Constable Mia Lay last week was another example of the arbitrary cruelty of service, where members were taken too young and too soon. Honouring the service of Constable Lay and her addition to the National Police Memorial is expected next year.
"National Police Remembrance Day is more than a reminder of the danger for those who have the driving call to protect and serve. It is where we allow ourselves to forget time and never be numbed to the years since our heroes were taken from us,'' Deputy Commissioner McCartney said.
"For two decades we have deliberately suspended the habitual diligence of our day-to-day lives to ensure that we make the time to remember those lost and stay connected to those still here.
"For those of us here now, and the ones who will become our future wakeful and watchful, we will continue to protect the memory of our fallen and their legacy in death, even if we wish we had done more to protect them in life.
"We know during times of deep sorrow, solitude can feel safe. But we must remind one another that isolating or retreating to our grief is an anthesis to how we look after our blue family - and that includes those who wear the uniform and the families who support those who do."
Details for media and the public:
Members from all Australian police agencies will commence a march at 4.20pm today (29 September, 2026) from AFP National Headquarters (Edmund Barton Building) and travel across the Kings Avenue bridge to the National Police Memorial.
The National Police Remembrance Day service will commence at 5pm at the Memorial. Members of the public are encouraged to attend, or watch the livestream.
There is no parking access on Wendouree Drive. Attendees are asked to use parking facilities outside the Russell precinct offices or on the corner of King George Terrace and Kings Avenue.
To allow for the march, Kings Avenue will be closed from 4.05-4.45pm between the Edmund Barton Building (the intersection at Macquarie Street) and the National Police Memorial (the intersection at Wendouree Street). Attendees and members of the community are asked to consider this road closure when planning their route or other travels.