Police have expanded their investigation into the deaths of two officers and the search for their alleged killer Dezi Freeman, whose wife has urged him to surrender.
On Sunday, Amalia Freeman provided a statement via her lawyer to media, including this masthead, expressing her deep sorrow for the loss of Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart, who were killed on Tuesday.
"We are truly sorry for your loss, and the suffering and grief that the families, friends and colleagues of Detective Leading Senior Constable Thompson and Senior Constable De Waart are now experiencing," she said.
"We echo the requests of the Victoria Police for the swift and safe conclusion of this tragedy.
"I lend my full support to Victoria Police in their search for my husband and will cooperate with Victoria Police in any way that I can."
Latest Stories
Ms Freeman said she and her children "respect the important work of Victoria Police and do not hold anti-authority views".
The 42-year-old made a plea to her husband to give himself up.
"Please Dezi, if you see or hear this, call 000 and arrange a surrender plan with police," she said.
"If anyone is harbouring, helping or supporting Dezi, please call 000 immediately and speak with the police."
The statement came after Ms Freeman and her 15-year-old son were arrested and released following a search of a Porepunkah property on Thursday relating to firearms.
Dezi Freeman, who is well-versed in bushcraft, was last seen heavily armed fleeing into the bush at the rear of his Rayner Track property on the outskirts of Porepunkah after allegedly killing Det Led Sen Const Thompson and Sen Const De Waart.
The pair were part of 10-member team conducting a search warrant of Freeman’s property, and a third officer who was shot continues to recover.
The search for Freeman dragged into its sixth day and there has been no confirmed sightings of him.
Conditions have been challenging with the nearby hills now blanketed in snow.
On Friday around 4:45pm a Victoria Police spokesperson said officers charged a 61-year-old Bright man after a search of his property.
Police located and seized weapons and a quantity of cannabis, charging the 61-year-old with prohibited person to posses weapons and drug possession after his arrest.
He was bailed to appear before Myrtleford Magistrates’ Court on 3 October.
It was not confirmed whether the man was a known associate of Freeman.
Following the property search in Bright on Friday, police also carried out a search in Myrtleford on Saturday as part of their investigation.
Police did not say what came of the search.
Police have relocated their search command post from Feathertop Winery in Porepunkah to the DECCA site in Ovens.
A Victoria Police spokesperson said the new site was a fit for purpose facility and will best support the force’s operational activity moving forward.
“We would like to reassure the community that police are not leaving the area,” they said.
“Locals and visitors to the area will still see police activity in and around the Porepunkah and Alpine communities.”
Victoria Police thanked the Feathertop Winery staff for their hospitality and generosity throughout the unprecedented circumstances.
Funeral arrangements for Det Led Sen Const Thompson, 59, and Sen Const De Waart, 35, have been confirmed, with both men to receive full police honours.
Det Led Sen Const Thompson will be farewelled on Monday, 8 September at 11am and Sen Const De Waart’s funeral is scheduled for Friday, 5 September.
Both funerals will be held at the Victoria Police Academy in Melbourne and the services will not be open to the public.
On Friday, Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush was joined by Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Police Anthony Carbines at Wangaratta Police Station to address media crammed into the station’s foyer.
Chief Commissioner Bush said police were exploring alleged sightings of the suspected gunman and officers continued to examine all lines of enquiries.
“The number one priority of Victoria Police is the hunt for this murderer and we're pouring over 450 police resources for that, and it's every other resource we have,” he said.
“The locals are being fantastic; there are certain lines of enquiry that are coming in from the public fed up being assessed.
“We are not leaving here until this person is in custody.”
Police continued to be discreet in sharing details of the mass search due to the possibility of Freeman having access to media and the force still offered a surrender plan.
“If that person is listening, it really is time to lay down your firearms and give yourself up, so that we can all bring this to a safe conclusion and this community can get back to what they love to do,” Chief Commissioner Bush said.
Premier Allan along with Minister Carbines laid a floral tribute at the station on behalf of the Victorian government to show their support to the local force in Wangaratta and the North East.
“You live in this beautiful regional city and in the wider district, and we pay our respects because they've lost friends, colleagues, loved ones on Tuesday,” she said.
“There is a lot grief across the community right now and there's men and women in blue who are going about their job continuing to keep the community safe and for that, I give my great thanks as Premier for Victoria."
VicEmergency alerts continued to advise Freeman (Desmond Filby) remained armed and dangerous, and multiple police units remain in the general area of Porepunkah.
Victoria Police are recommending that people travelling to Bright, Falls Creek or Mount Hotham avoid travelling through Porepunkah and instead, travel Happy Valley Road at C534 and the Kiewa Valley Highway to the snowfields.
Police advise that if you see Freeman, call 000 immediately but do not approach him.
The force has been adamant anyone who assists Freeman in his efforts to avoid apprehension will be prosecuted.
Anyone with other information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
