An avid traveller with the world at his feet, Senior Constable Vadim De Waart-Hottart should be plotting his next holiday adventure.
Instead, heartbroken loved ones, friends, colleagues and political leaders will farewell him at a private funeral on Friday at the Victoria Police Academy, where he started his police career seven years ago.
The 35-year-old grew up in Belgium before joining Victoria Police for what was shaping up to be a long, successful career until his life was cut short in the line of duty.
His colleague, Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, was also killed, while another officer was badly injured in a violent alleged confrontation with Dezi Freeman while they were serving a warrant on August 26.
The police chapel was bathed in blue before sunrise on Frida