BY WILLIAM TON for AAP
POREPUNKAH, VIC. — A new task force has been assembled to lead the search for fugitive accused police killer Dezi Freeman, as authorities consolidate resources.
Freeman, who also goes by Desmond Filby, has been on the run after allegedly shooting dead police officers Neal Thompson and Vadim de Waart-Hottart while they served a warrant at his home in Porepunkah, about 300km northeast of Melbourne.
For more than two months, hundreds of police have been involved in the manhunt, with over 400 officers deployed in the hours and days after the killings in August.
The search was scaled back to more than 200 police in September.
Detectives from the Crime Command, Fugitive Squad, Armed Crime Squad, VIPER Taskforce, Special Operations Group, Search and Rescue, and local air-wing members will officially take over the ongoing search on Friday.
Taskforce Summit will be led by a detective from the Crime Command State Anti-Gangs division, based in the Great Alpine area, Victoria Police said.
“Victoria Police remains committed to using every available resource and the necessary capabilities to find Freeman. This investigation is far from over,” Assistant Commissioner Martin O’Brien said.
Detective Senior Constable Thompson, 59, was just a week away from retiring, while Senior Constable de Waart-Hottart, 34, was on temporary assignment to the area.
Since August 26, hundreds of officers and specialist resources, including interstate and international crews, have scoured dense bushland, including large parts of the Mount Buffalo National Park, for Freeman.
The park will fully reopen to the public on Friday, with staff patrols continuing.
Detectives have investigated more than 1700 tip-offs, but none have led investigators to Freeman.
People in the area have been advised to remain vigilant and not approach the fugitive, who is considered armed and dangerous.
Victoria Police have offered a $1 million and the possibility of indemnity for information leading to his capture, the largest reward in the state’s history for facilitating an arrest.
“We do believe it will only be brought to resolution through assistance from members of the public,” Mr O’Brien said.
“This could be sightings of Freeman, information you’re hearing in your local communities, even suspicious activity on your property.”
