Victoria is at the center of an unprecedented law enforcement operation after two police officers were shot and killed in the state’s alpine region. The search, now stretching into its third week, has turned the quiet township of Porepunkah into the base of the largest policing effort in Australian history.
The deadly confrontation occurred on August 26, 2025, when officers attempted to serve a warrant at a property on the outskirts of town. Police allege that the suspect, identified as Dezi Freeman—also known by the alias Desmond Filby—opened fire. Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, 59, and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart, 35, were killed instantly, while another officer was left seriously wounded. Freeman fled on foot into rugged terrain.
Since then, more than 125 highly trained personnel have been deployed, bolstered by reinforcements from other states and New Zealand. Teams have been navigating treacherous alpine country, searching caves, cliffs, river systems, and dense bushland. Old huts and abandoned mine shafts have also been combed, but no verified sightings of Freeman have been reported since the day of the attack.
Police commanders say multiple outcomes are under consideration: that the fugitive remains hidden in the wilderness, that he is being supported by others, or that he has succumbed to the environment. Authorities maintain he is armed and poses a serious threat.
To aid the investigation, a $1 million reward has been announced, prompting more than 1,100 tips from the public. Travel in and around Mount Buffalo National Park was immediately restricted after the incident, and while some measures have been eased, patrols and checkpoints remain. Local businesses say the town’s usually steady flow of visitors has collapsed, and residents describe ongoing tension and uncertainty.
The loss of Thompson and de Waart-Hottart has shaken Victoria Police, with condolences and tributes pouring in from across the nation. As the sweeping manhunt continues, the people of Porepunkah remain in limbo, living in the shadow of a tragedy that has triggered the most extensive tactical response Australia has ever witnessed.
