Increased Police Presence in Porepunkah in Search for Suspected Officer Killer

Dozens more police have been brought in to search for Dezi Freeman on the same day it emerged that only a stroke of luck allegedly prevented the accused cop-killer from shooting a fourth officer in August.

However, the gun did not fire and the officer was unhurt.

Freeman has not been seen since the shooting in late August in Porepunkah, in north-east Victoria, despite a huge manhunt for him ever since.

Today, police announced that 33 extra officers from the public order response team were brought up to the High Country to launch an additional sweep of the area.

A Victoria Police spokesperson also said authorities have searched “a number” of private properties in Porepunkah over the past two days as part of the manhunt.

“The search involves a number of specialist services and follows intensive searches conducted by tactical police in the area over the past seven weeks,” the spokesperson said.

They added that the police presence in the area remains “significant”, more than a month after the horrific shooting.

“We are committed to using every available resource and the necessary skills required to find Freeman,” the spokesperson said.

Police have said they are open to that possibility and have been searching the area with cadaver dogs, but they have said Freeman could also be alive and receiving assistance from somebody in the community.

Investigators have characterised Freeman, who has links to the disparate sovereign citizen movement, as a skilled outdoorsman.

A $1 million reward for information leading to his arrest remains available, and anyone with information about his whereabouts has been urged to call triple zero.