A sea of navy blue has surrounded the coffin of a young officer gunned down in his prime as the hunt continues for his alleged killer.

Senior Constable Vadim De Waart-Hottart, 34, is being farewelled by loved ones, friends, colleagues and political leaders at a private funeral at the Victoria Police Academy on Friday.

Ahead of the service, the area around the academy in Melbourne's east was eerily quiet as hundreds of members, alongside police dogs, gathered both inside and outside the on-site chapel.

The chapel's capacity was doubled from 500 people to more than 1000 people, but it still wasn't enough, with officers spilling into hallways and overflow rooms.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Chief Commissioner Mike Bush, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan and Police Minister Anthony Carbi

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