1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,640 Speaker 1: You're on the air with Jason Lauren Clints here as well. Hey, 2 00:00:02,640 --> 00:00:05,840 Speaker 1: coming up inside the next ten minutes. We love when 3 00:00:05,880 --> 00:00:08,719 Speaker 1: people recommend things in this city, like you've got to 4 00:00:08,760 --> 00:00:11,399 Speaker 1: go to this hairdresser. Oh my god, you've been to 5 00:00:11,480 --> 00:00:14,760 Speaker 1: this cinema. They've got the nicest seats. There's a particular 6 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:17,320 Speaker 1: food that we have all been recommended. 7 00:00:17,360 --> 00:00:18,959 Speaker 2: However, we've been arguing over it. 8 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:20,079 Speaker 3: We you've divided us. 9 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:22,040 Speaker 1: It's been the one thing that's almost pulled the show apart. 10 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:23,920 Speaker 1: This morning. We are going to put that to rest. 11 00:00:24,079 --> 00:00:26,040 Speaker 2: We are and I shall win the debate. 12 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:27,560 Speaker 1: We will get to that coming up in the next 13 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:28,000 Speaker 1: few minutes. 14 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:32,960 Speaker 3: Okay, but first, it's been described as Australia's biggest tactical 15 00:00:33,080 --> 00:00:36,640 Speaker 3: police deployment in history. That is the search for Desi 16 00:00:36,640 --> 00:00:40,360 Speaker 3: Freeman in Victoria's High Country, the accused police killer. So 17 00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:42,640 Speaker 3: we've got officers not just from vic Pole but also 18 00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:45,880 Speaker 3: from every state and territory here in Australia. We've also 19 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:48,800 Speaker 3: got New Zealand police officers. Of course, the Chief Commissioner 20 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:52,200 Speaker 3: now Mike Bush was formerly the Chief Commissioner in New Zealand. 21 00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:56,040 Speaker 3: It's an extraordinary search for this bloke. To bring us 22 00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:59,600 Speaker 3: up to date. Is the Acting Deputy Commissioner Russell Barrett 23 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:04,200 Speaker 3: from Victor Tory Police. Good morning, Acting Deputy Commissioner. 24 00:01:04,440 --> 00:01:08,560 Speaker 4: Good morning. Thanks for me. That's a mouthful, isn't it. 25 00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:09,640 Speaker 2: We go with us. 26 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:12,720 Speaker 4: I think that's probably easier else. 27 00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 3: So where do we stand right now? What? What? What 28 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:18,720 Speaker 3: is the latest on this search? We saw some video 29 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:22,840 Speaker 3: video and some photos amazing on socials last night and 30 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:25,119 Speaker 3: on the news. It's an extraordinary search. 31 00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:27,240 Speaker 4: Well, it is, and I think I think the the 32 00:01:27,280 --> 00:01:31,200 Speaker 4: images actually give some some reality of what we're dealing with. 33 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:33,720 Speaker 4: To be there, like we all, I suppose unless you 34 00:01:33,760 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 4: spent a lot of time up in that high country, 35 00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:39,880 Speaker 4: if you think of it as pretty nice, nice land, 36 00:01:39,920 --> 00:01:42,040 Speaker 4: which it is, but it's it's actually really rugg it's 37 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:46,040 Speaker 4: brain in some areas and really difficult places to search. 38 00:01:46,160 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 4: So we had to search, I suppose, in terms of 39 00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:51,280 Speaker 4: the operation that we've completed, we had to search a 40 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:53,880 Speaker 4: large area and we had to do it in one go. 41 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:56,720 Speaker 4: We couldn't do it in sweeps or in piecemeal approaches. 42 00:01:56,760 --> 00:02:00,640 Speaker 4: We just couldn't through tactical reasons. So to achieve that 43 00:02:00,680 --> 00:02:04,600 Speaker 4: we had to call on our technical friends from all 44 00:02:04,720 --> 00:02:07,720 Speaker 4: different jurisdictions across the Australia and New Zealand, and we 45 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:10,800 Speaker 4: work with them all the time in training and to 46 00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:13,680 Speaker 4: ensure because every now on again we need to support 47 00:02:13,680 --> 00:02:17,520 Speaker 4: each other around there specialist people with really high skills 48 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:20,320 Speaker 4: and it's unusual though and in facts in how have 49 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:24,000 Speaker 4: you untraced and to actually call on everyone simultaneous. 50 00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:30,600 Speaker 1: So you mentioned the search. It's still going correct in 51 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:33,040 Speaker 1: no way you guys are pulling back on numbers like 52 00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:35,160 Speaker 1: you're going to continue until you find them. 53 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:37,440 Speaker 4: Yeah, look at the search is on going, is on 54 00:02:37,480 --> 00:02:41,440 Speaker 4: going today, it continues the weekend. How the technical support 55 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:44,400 Speaker 4: that we got from other states and New Zealand has 56 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:46,360 Speaker 4: left us in some ways. We've still got some people 57 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:49,120 Speaker 4: still with helping Victoria. But if I onet going to seed, 58 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:51,760 Speaker 4: I was suppose that's for operational reasons. But yeah, the 59 00:02:51,760 --> 00:02:54,600 Speaker 4: search continues. But the search is only one element of 60 00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:57,080 Speaker 4: our investigation. I think that's a bit that it's a 61 00:02:57,080 --> 00:02:58,440 Speaker 4: bit you can silly, and it's a bit that it's 62 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:00,960 Speaker 4: the visual bit that everyone's focused on this massive land 63 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:04,359 Speaker 4: search in the high country, But our investigation is much 64 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:08,280 Speaker 4: broader than that. This is this is a homicide investigation, 65 00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:12,440 Speaker 4: and we're using all of our usual investigative techniques to 66 00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:16,480 Speaker 4: try and establish freemans whereabouts and bring in before the courts. 67 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:20,520 Speaker 4: But it's a component of that is a massive ground search. 68 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:25,800 Speaker 2: Do you feel like you're getting closer, Well. 69 00:03:25,720 --> 00:03:29,160 Speaker 4: I think we are. It will closest if you to vibe, 70 00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:33,160 Speaker 4: but we're eliminating options and in terms of in terms 71 00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:36,960 Speaker 4: of good practice employees that that that that moves us forward, 72 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:39,680 Speaker 4: and in terms of what we've done over the last 73 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:41,240 Speaker 4: in the end of last week and over the weekend, 74 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:44,400 Speaker 4: it enabled us to actually, you know, say to the community, 75 00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:47,200 Speaker 4: you know, we can now have some level of conference 76 00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:48,960 Speaker 4: that people can give return to that area. But the 77 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:51,440 Speaker 4: park is still closed and it's how I am our 78 00:03:51,480 --> 00:03:53,880 Speaker 4: goal to get the park reopen. But we've got some 79 00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:55,560 Speaker 4: more things we need to do before we get to 80 00:03:55,560 --> 00:03:57,800 Speaker 4: that stage. But we need there's so many things we've 81 00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:00,560 Speaker 4: got to work our way through in this investigation. It's 82 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:03,600 Speaker 4: not just investigation. We've got a community that you know, 83 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:08,280 Speaker 4: is reliant on on tourism and reliant on and on 84 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:10,960 Speaker 4: people going to the era, and and so we need 85 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:13,800 Speaker 4: to work with them to ensure their laws if it's 86 00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:16,160 Speaker 4: aren't being impacted by what is a massive search. 87 00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:20,640 Speaker 5: And how are the Victoria Police holding up because obviously 88 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:22,600 Speaker 5: this is a huge man hunt, but on. 89 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:24,719 Speaker 2: Top of it, there is a lot of emotion. You've 90 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:25,720 Speaker 2: lost two of your own. 91 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:28,960 Speaker 5: I know, I can't imagine how the force of feeling 92 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:31,880 Speaker 5: right now, but what what what is happening within Victoria Police? 93 00:04:31,880 --> 00:04:32,560 Speaker 2: How is everyone h. 94 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:35,520 Speaker 4: Yeah, there's look, you know holding up well, you know, 95 00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:38,960 Speaker 4: a lot of wealthare around people, and the around particularly 96 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:40,719 Speaker 4: you know, we've got people who know knew the two 97 00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:45,159 Speaker 4: offices really really welcome and so you know, we've we've 98 00:04:44,920 --> 00:04:47,200 Speaker 4: we've we've got a large chunking and say use the 99 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:48,680 Speaker 4: word engine. I'm not sure it's the right word, but 100 00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:51,039 Speaker 4: you know in terms of, you know, a welfare engine 101 00:04:51,080 --> 00:04:54,719 Speaker 4: that kicks and and we're really buoyed by the support 102 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:57,640 Speaker 4: from the community. Was kind of commenting on your message 103 00:04:57,720 --> 00:05:01,760 Speaker 4: the day after, like you know that tribute you played 104 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:06,360 Speaker 4: or you know, wrote and read out on air, those 105 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:09,760 Speaker 4: sort of things really mean a lot. They let us 106 00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:13,040 Speaker 4: know that, you know, the community with us, and we're 107 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:16,080 Speaker 4: seeing that and that really helps keep our members up 108 00:05:16,120 --> 00:05:18,280 Speaker 4: and about and focused on en roll. They understand their 109 00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:20,960 Speaker 4: role and they're very good at functions. But to know 110 00:05:21,080 --> 00:05:25,400 Speaker 4: the community is supportive and people are feeling for them 111 00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:30,480 Speaker 4: an emotionally is a huge thing for us. 112 00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:31,279 Speaker 2: I'm glad. 113 00:05:31,960 --> 00:05:34,640 Speaker 3: Can I ask you about and Look, I get that 114 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:38,000 Speaker 3: it's intel, so you don't want to, you know, dissect 115 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:43,440 Speaker 3: the investigation. Are you confident that this bloke is alive? 116 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:44,880 Speaker 3: Is there a chance he's dead? 117 00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:49,080 Speaker 4: Look, I think we've said it probably for a while 118 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:51,920 Speaker 4: out I said it yesterday. We're open to all options 119 00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:57,000 Speaker 4: in terms of an investigation. We don't eliminate any options 120 00:05:57,040 --> 00:06:00,960 Speaker 4: until we're absolutely confident that they've gone So all the 121 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:04,000 Speaker 4: options are available. We still have a view and we're 122 00:06:04,040 --> 00:06:06,640 Speaker 4: working on a view that he might be contained within 123 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:09,320 Speaker 4: the area, that he may be being harbored by somebody 124 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:12,080 Speaker 4: outside of the area for our search, or that he 125 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:14,800 Speaker 4: said all of those viable options that we're working to. 126 00:06:14,880 --> 00:06:18,680 Speaker 4: We don't close our minds to any option. We just 127 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:21,400 Speaker 4: continue to work with a view that all of them 128 00:06:21,440 --> 00:06:23,200 Speaker 4: are things we need to work our way through to 129 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:28,600 Speaker 4: establish the truth of them, or alternatively eliminates them as 130 00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:30,719 Speaker 4: a viable option. At this stage, all of them are 131 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:31,800 Speaker 4: still on the table. 132 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:35,120 Speaker 1: Right and just quickly the one million dollar reward still 133 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:35,560 Speaker 1: in place. 134 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:38,640 Speaker 4: Yeah, absolutely, and you know we've we've. 135 00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:42,360 Speaker 3: Had done on that scale. Yeah. 136 00:06:43,240 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 4: And in terms of it for arrest, it's not. It's 137 00:06:45,560 --> 00:06:49,480 Speaker 4: not for conviction, which is which is an unusual an 138 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:52,600 Speaker 4: unusual piece, but it's all we normally normally it's information 139 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:55,600 Speaker 4: leading to a conviction. But with what we're saying me 140 00:06:55,760 --> 00:06:58,400 Speaker 4: is if you can give us information that leads him 141 00:06:58,440 --> 00:07:02,120 Speaker 4: to be arrested, then there than the reward, then triggers. 142 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:06,360 Speaker 4: And we've had over twelve hundred different information reports come 143 00:07:06,440 --> 00:07:08,560 Speaker 4: in now and we continue to get them. And we 144 00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:11,200 Speaker 4: would say to any community member who has any information 145 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:14,720 Speaker 4: out there, please call us information. 146 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:15,520 Speaker 1: We need money. 147 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:18,240 Speaker 5: Too many time wasted with that though, people that think 148 00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:21,000 Speaker 5: that oh we might you know, just put our case 149 00:07:21,080 --> 00:07:23,520 Speaker 5: we get a cut of that. Yeah. 150 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:25,600 Speaker 4: Look, there's there's no doubt get we get information that 151 00:07:25,680 --> 00:07:28,960 Speaker 4: isn't isn't valid or viable, but that we would we wouldn't. 152 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:31,520 Speaker 4: We wouldn't at this stage. I wouldn't encourage them not 153 00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:33,880 Speaker 4: to ring in. Let us make the decisions around that 154 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:38,000 Speaker 4: because orderately, and I think you know it's important in 155 00:07:38,080 --> 00:07:41,240 Speaker 4: terms of the conversation this week, well, now that we've 156 00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:43,200 Speaker 4: said to people you can return to the high country. 157 00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:44,840 Speaker 4: We'll have people who have holiday houses up there who 158 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:46,960 Speaker 4: haven't been there for a few weeks. In fact, with 159 00:07:47,080 --> 00:07:49,480 Speaker 4: school holidays coming up, they're probably planning to up there. 160 00:07:49,800 --> 00:07:52,040 Speaker 4: We need to know immediately they are right, if there's 161 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 4: something not right, if they look and say, you know, 162 00:07:54,480 --> 00:07:58,680 Speaker 4: someone has been here or someone because these pieces of 163 00:07:58,720 --> 00:08:01,840 Speaker 4: information will help us that we don't have at the moment, 164 00:08:01,880 --> 00:08:03,760 Speaker 4: and it might be the bit of information that leads 165 00:08:03,840 --> 00:08:06,400 Speaker 4: us to somewhere else that leads us to his capture. 166 00:08:06,480 --> 00:08:08,240 Speaker 3: And just finally, is it fair to say, Russell, you 167 00:08:08,280 --> 00:08:12,600 Speaker 3: won't stop until you put a full stop on this. Yeah. 168 00:08:12,640 --> 00:08:18,440 Speaker 4: Absolutely, our investigation and you know we will continue to 169 00:08:18,440 --> 00:08:21,720 Speaker 4: reassess our operational deployment to this and and what is 170 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:26,960 Speaker 4: needed to actually achieve outcomes in the investigation. So there's 171 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:29,080 Speaker 4: no doubt that there will be a change in temper 172 00:08:29,160 --> 00:08:31,280 Speaker 4: if we don't find him in search, because our ground 173 00:08:31,320 --> 00:08:34,200 Speaker 4: search is only one element. But the actual investigation will 174 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:37,200 Speaker 4: not stop, and an investigation is far broader than just 175 00:08:37,240 --> 00:08:39,480 Speaker 4: the ground search. And I can tell the community and 176 00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:42,679 Speaker 4: tell you for him, and if he's listening, our resolve 177 00:08:42,760 --> 00:08:45,400 Speaker 4: will not change. We will continue to investigate until we 178 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:48,079 Speaker 4: reach conclusion in this matter, until he's arrested and brought 179 00:08:48,120 --> 00:08:51,440 Speaker 4: before the justice. I can guarantee that, God. 180 00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:55,040 Speaker 1: Said Acting Deputy Commissioner Russell Barrett, joining us on the air. 181 00:08:55,080 --> 00:08:58,120 Speaker 1: Hey Russell, good luck and great work you guys are doing. Mate. 182 00:08:58,200 --> 00:08:59,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, thanks for joining us. We love Victoria. 183 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:01,920 Speaker 5: They're a big part of our show and our family 184 00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:04,440 Speaker 5: here as well, so we're thinking of you all and 185 00:09:04,760 --> 00:09:06,040 Speaker 5: we wish you all the very best. 186 00:09:06,040 --> 00:09:08,480 Speaker 4: Thanks, thanks Russell, thank you, Thank you everyone. 187 00:09:08,520 --> 00:09:10,520 Speaker 1: I'll tell you what a million bucks you know, if 188 00:09:10,559 --> 00:09:13,280 Speaker 1: there are people trying to help him money talks. 189 00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:14,120 Speaker 2: Oh, I sure hope. 190 00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:18,680 Speaker 5: So you know, Yeah, it's it's just a terrible, terrible, 191 00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:20,240 Speaker 5: terrible circumstance. 192 00:09:20,320 --> 00:09:22,320 Speaker 2: So hopefully it's good sorted out. 193 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:23,719 Speaker 1: Tell you what's a good point what he said, like 194 00:09:23,760 --> 00:09:25,880 Speaker 1: people returning to the holiday home. Yeah, you see something 195 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:26,520 Speaker 1: out of place. 196 00:09:26,640 --> 00:09:28,800 Speaker 5: And also the community up there has suffered a lot 197 00:09:28,840 --> 00:09:31,000 Speaker 5: through no fault of their own, so please get out 198 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:34,560 Speaker 5: and support small businesses, support where you can and try 199 00:09:34,600 --> 00:09:35,840 Speaker 5: and help out us. With a woman on the news 200 00:09:35,840 --> 00:09:38,040 Speaker 5: who owned cafe and she'd lost twenty thousand dollars in 201 00:09:38,120 --> 00:09:40,480 Speaker 5: revenue over the last couple of weeks, so if you can, 202 00:09:40,520 --> 00:09:46,480 Speaker 5: please support local businesses up there. Jason, Lauren Lauren wake 203 00:09:46,600 --> 00:09:51,640 Speaker 5: up feeling good following them on the socials.