Victoria Police has lifted a travel warning to the Porepunkah area while disclosing that it launched what it called the largest tactical policing operation in Australia's history to find suspected gunman Dezi Freeman.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Russell Barrett said specialist officers from across Australia and New Zealand and elements of the Australian Defence Force have been deployed to search rugged High Country terrain since Freeman allegedly shot two officers and seriously injured a third during the service of a warrant at a home in Porepunkah on August 26. Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart, 35, and Detective Neal Thompson, 59, died in the incident; a third officer was hospitalised with serious injuries.
Barrett said 125 heavily armed specialist tactical members have been conducting sustained ground searches since the shootings, crawling through caves, traversing rivers and falls, and systematically checking gorges, mine shafts, huts, abandoned structures and more than 100 properties in surrounding towns. He also said the broader operation at times has involved as many as 450 heavily armed and specialist personnel supported by the Australian Defence Force.
"Specialist tactical members scoured an area in the immediate vicinity of Freeman's location," Barrett said. "This included extremely rugged track; they were crawling through caves, they were traversing rivers and falls, they were searching gorges in an effort to find Freeman." He thanked policing colleagues from Australia and New Zealand for their "unwavering support" and said the search would continue.
Police have received more than 1,100 information reports since the incident and have fielded hundreds of tips, Barrett said. He reiterated that authorities consider multiple possibilities: that Freeman remains in the area, that he may be harboured by others, or that he may be dead. A reward of A$1 million for information leading to his arrest remains in place.
With the search entering its fourth week, Barrett announced a partial easing of travel advice for the local community. Visitors will be allowed to return to Porepunkah, Bright and surrounding communities, including ahead of school holidays and the Grand Final long weekend, but Mt Buffalo National Park remains closed and police cautioned holidaymakers to exercise vigilance and follow safety warnings.
"Today we say to the community in Victoria, we're making a slight lift in the travel warnings for the Porepunkah area," Barrett said. "We're no longer saying to people they need to avoid that area. The park (Mt Buffalo National Park) remains closed; our search efforts remain focused on that area." He asked anyone with information, or anyone harbouring the suspect, to consider surrendering or contacting police.
Victoria Police have released images of specialist officers and police dogs operating in deep bushland, and described a methodical, resource-intensive approach to the search. Barrett said officers have carried out searches both with and without warrants and have left no area unchecked.
Authorities have also described behaviour by Freeman in the day before the shootings as agitated and disturbed; investigators continue to examine his movements and contacts. Police said their investigation is not restricted to the immediate search area and that detectives are following up on leads and intelligence nationally.
The incident has prompted an intensive operational and investigative response, with senior Victoria Police officials stressing the potential danger posed by an armed fugitive. Barrett said every step taken in the search has been deliberate because of concerns over what officers might encounter in hidden terrain.
The search remains active. Police urged the public to remain alert and to pass on any information to investigators as the multiagency operation continues to attempt to locate Freeman and bring him before the justice system.