Taskforce Summit will today officially take primacy for the ongoing search for wanted fugitive Desmond Freeman.
The taskforce, to be based in the Great Alpine area, will be led by detectives from Crime Command, including specialist resources from the Fugitive Squad, Armed Crime Squad, VIPER Taskforce, Special Operations Group, Search and Rescue Squad, and local Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems members.
The taskforce will be led by a detective inspector from the Victoria Police Crime Command State Anti-Gangs Division.
The Homicide Squad will continue to lead the investigation into the murders of Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart-Hottart.
Members from the Public Order Response Team (PORT) are currently embedded into Bright and Myrtleford police stations, increasing local patrols and enhancing police numbers in the area as the search continues.
The work of the Ovens Incident Police Operations Centre (IPOC) and Police Forward Command Post, which have operated for the past eight weeks, will now transition into the taskforce.
Since 26 August, hundreds of Victoria Police officers and specialist resources from across Victoria, Australia and New Zealand have been tirelessly searching Porepunkah and surrounding areas at any one time for Freeman.
As part of this search, Victoria Police's tactical members, Public Order Response Team as well as other specialist resources, have searched large areas of the Mount Buffalo National Park.
Extensive searches of the park have also been conducted from the air, supported by Victoria Police Air Wing and other specialist support.
Detectives have investigated over 1700 pieces of intelligence, including information received from the public.
Despite these extensive searches and enquiries, police have not located Desmond Freeman.
Victoria Police will continue to maintain an enhanced presence in the area.
Anyone who sees Freeman should phone triple zero (000) immediately and not approach him.
A reward of up to $1 million remains for information leading to Freeman's arrest.
Mount Buffalo National Park will fully reopen to the public on Friday 24 October, following advice from Victoria Police.
The full details are available on the Parks Victoria website, with staff also patrolling the park.
Anyone with any information on Freeman's location, or anything the community notices at the Mount Buffalo National Park should be reported to Crime Stoppers Victoria via 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
Quotes attributable to Assistant Commissioner Martin O'Brien, Crime Command:
"Victoria Police remains committed to using every available resource and the necessary capabilities to find Freeman. This investigation is far from over.
"However, we do believe it will only be brought to resolution through assistance from members of the public. I strongly urge anyone with any information at all, no matter how small you think it may be, to come forward and contact Crime Stoppers.
"This could be sightings of Freeman, information you're hearing in your local communities, even suspicious activity on your property - whatever it is, we want to hear from you. As always, this can be done anonymously.
"It has been an extremely challenging investigation but are we incredibly determined to see this to resolution."
