WEBVTT - Bonus: Porepunkah Update from The Acting Deputy Commissioner 0:00:00.080 --> 0:00:02.640 You're on the air with Jason Lauren Clints here as well. Hey, 0:00:02.640 --> 0:00:05.840 coming up inside the next ten minutes. We love when 0:00:05.880 --> 0:00:08.719 people recommend things in this city, like you've got to 0:00:08.760 --> 0:00:11.399 go to this hairdresser. Oh my god, you've been to 0:00:11.480 --> 0:00:14.760 this cinema. They've got the nicest seats. There's a particular 0:00:14.800 --> 0:00:17.320 food that we have all been recommended. 0:00:17.360 --> 0:00:18.959 However, we've been arguing over it. 0:00:19.000 --> 0:00:20.079 We you've divided us. 0:00:20.120 --> 0:00:22.040 It's been the one thing that's almost pulled the show apart. 0:00:22.160 --> 0:00:23.920 This morning. We are going to put that to rest. 0:00:24.079 --> 0:00:26.040 We are and I shall win the debate. 0:00:26.239 --> 0:00:27.560 We will get to that coming up in the next 0:00:27.600 --> 0:00:28.000 few minutes. 0:00:28.080 --> 0:00:32.960 Okay, but first, it's been described as Australia's biggest tactical 0:00:33.080 --> 0:00:36.640 police deployment in history. That is the search for Desi 0:00:36.640 --> 0:00:40.360 Freeman in Victoria's High Country, the accused police killer. So 0:00:40.440 --> 0:00:42.640 we've got officers not just from vic Pole but also 0:00:42.640 --> 0:00:45.880 from every state and territory here in Australia. We've also 0:00:45.920 --> 0:00:48.800 got New Zealand police officers. Of course, the Chief Commissioner 0:00:48.800 --> 0:00:52.200 now Mike Bush was formerly the Chief Commissioner in New Zealand. 0:00:52.680 --> 0:00:56.040 It's an extraordinary search for this bloke. To bring us 0:00:56.080 --> 0:00:59.600 up to date. Is the Acting Deputy Commissioner Russell Barrett 0:00:59.600 --> 0:01:04.200 from Victor Tory Police. Good morning, Acting Deputy Commissioner. 0:01:04.440 --> 0:01:08.560 Good morning. Thanks for me. That's a mouthful, isn't it. 0:01:09.080 --> 0:01:09.640 We go with us. 0:01:11.000 --> 0:01:12.720 I think that's probably easier else. 0:01:12.840 --> 0:01:16.280 So where do we stand right now? What? What? What 0:01:16.400 --> 0:01:18.720 is the latest on this search? We saw some video 0:01:19.000 --> 0:01:22.840 video and some photos amazing on socials last night and 0:01:22.840 --> 0:01:25.119 on the news. It's an extraordinary search. 0:01:25.760 --> 0:01:27.240 Well, it is, and I think I think the the 0:01:27.280 --> 0:01:31.200 images actually give some some reality of what we're dealing with. 0:01:31.640 --> 0:01:33.720 To be there, like we all, I suppose unless you 0:01:33.760 --> 0:01:35.440 spent a lot of time up in that high country, 0:01:35.440 --> 0:01:39.880 if you think of it as pretty nice, nice land, 0:01:39.920 --> 0:01:42.040 which it is, but it's it's actually really rugg it's 0:01:42.040 --> 0:01:46.040 brain in some areas and really difficult places to search. 0:01:46.160 --> 0:01:48.080 So we had to search, I suppose, in terms of 0:01:48.120 --> 0:01:51.280 the operation that we've completed, we had to search a 0:01:51.480 --> 0:01:53.880 large area and we had to do it in one go. 0:01:54.000 --> 0:01:56.720 We couldn't do it in sweeps or in piecemeal approaches. 0:01:56.760 --> 0:02:00.640 We just couldn't through tactical reasons. So to achieve that 0:02:00.680 --> 0:02:04.600 we had to call on our technical friends from all 0:02:04.720 --> 0:02:07.720 different jurisdictions across the Australia and New Zealand, and we 0:02:07.760 --> 0:02:10.800 work with them all the time in training and to 0:02:10.919 --> 0:02:13.680 ensure because every now on again we need to support 0:02:13.680 --> 0:02:17.520 each other around there specialist people with really high skills 0:02:17.560 --> 0:02:20.320 and it's unusual though and in facts in how have 0:02:20.360 --> 0:02:24.000 you untraced and to actually call on everyone simultaneous. 0:02:24.639 --> 0:02:30.600 So you mentioned the search. It's still going correct in 0:02:30.639 --> 0:02:33.040 no way you guys are pulling back on numbers like 0:02:33.280 --> 0:02:35.160 you're going to continue until you find them. 0:02:35.840 --> 0:02:37.440 Yeah, look at the search is on going, is on 0:02:37.480 --> 0:02:41.440 going today, it continues the weekend. How the technical support 0:02:41.480 --> 0:02:44.400 that we got from other states and New Zealand has 0:02:44.480 --> 0:02:46.360 left us in some ways. We've still got some people 0:02:46.440 --> 0:02:49.120 still with helping Victoria. But if I onet going to seed, 0:02:49.120 --> 0:02:51.760 I was suppose that's for operational reasons. But yeah, the 0:02:51.760 --> 0:02:54.600 search continues. But the search is only one element of 0:02:54.600 --> 0:02:57.080 our investigation. I think that's a bit that it's a 0:02:57.080 --> 0:02:58.440 bit you can silly, and it's a bit that it's 0:02:58.480 --> 0:03:00.960 the visual bit that everyone's focused on this massive land 0:03:01.000 --> 0:03:04.359 search in the high country, But our investigation is much 0:03:04.400 --> 0:03:08.280 broader than that. This is this is a homicide investigation, 0:03:08.360 --> 0:03:12.440 and we're using all of our usual investigative techniques to 0:03:12.440 --> 0:03:16.480 try and establish freemans whereabouts and bring in before the courts. 0:03:16.520 --> 0:03:20.520 But it's a component of that is a massive ground search. 0:03:21.600 --> 0:03:25.800 Do you feel like you're getting closer, Well. 0:03:25.720 --> 0:03:29.160 I think we are. It will closest if you to vibe, 0:03:29.160 --> 0:03:33.160 but we're eliminating options and in terms of in terms 0:03:33.160 --> 0:03:36.960 of good practice employees that that that that moves us forward, 0:03:37.680 --> 0:03:39.680 and in terms of what we've done over the last 0:03:39.680 --> 0:03:41.240 in the end of last week and over the weekend, 0:03:41.800 --> 0:03:44.400 it enabled us to actually, you know, say to the community, 0:03:44.560 --> 0:03:47.200 you know, we can now have some level of conference 0:03:47.200 --> 0:03:48.960 that people can give return to that area. But the 0:03:49.000 --> 0:03:51.440 park is still closed and it's how I am our 0:03:51.480 --> 0:03:53.880 goal to get the park reopen. But we've got some 0:03:53.920 --> 0:03:55.560 more things we need to do before we get to 0:03:55.560 --> 0:03:57.800 that stage. But we need there's so many things we've 0:03:57.800 --> 0:04:00.560 got to work our way through in this investigation. It's 0:04:00.680 --> 0:04:03.600 not just investigation. We've got a community that you know, 0:04:03.840 --> 0:04:08.280 is reliant on on tourism and reliant on and on 0:04:08.920 --> 0:04:10.960 people going to the era, and and so we need 0:04:11.000 --> 0:04:13.800 to work with them to ensure their laws if it's 0:04:13.800 --> 0:04:16.160 aren't being impacted by what is a massive search. 0:04:16.880 --> 0:04:20.640 And how are the Victoria Police holding up because obviously 0:04:20.760 --> 0:04:22.600 this is a huge man hunt, but on. 0:04:22.560 --> 0:04:24.719 Top of it, there is a lot of emotion. You've 0:04:24.720 --> 0:04:25.720 lost two of your own. 0:04:26.240 --> 0:04:28.960 I know, I can't imagine how the force of feeling 0:04:29.040 --> 0:04:31.880 right now, but what what what is happening within Victoria Police? 0:04:31.880 --> 0:04:32.560 How is everyone h. 0:04:32.960 --> 0:04:35.520 Yeah, there's look, you know holding up well, you know, 0:04:35.680 --> 0:04:38.960 a lot of wealthare around people, and the around particularly 0:04:39.080 --> 0:04:40.719 you know, we've got people who know knew the two 0:04:41.120 --> 0:04:45.159 offices really really welcome and so you know, we've we've 0:04:44.920 --> 0:04:47.200 we've we've got a large chunking and say use the 0:04:47.200 --> 0:04:48.680 word engine. I'm not sure it's the right word, but 0:04:48.760 --> 0:04:51.039 you know in terms of, you know, a welfare engine 0:04:51.080 --> 0:04:54.719 that kicks and and we're really buoyed by the support 0:04:54.760 --> 0:04:57.640 from the community. Was kind of commenting on your message 0:04:57.720 --> 0:05:01.760 the day after, like you know that tribute you played 0:05:02.400 --> 0:05:06.360 or you know, wrote and read out on air, those 0:05:06.400 --> 0:05:09.760 sort of things really mean a lot. They let us 0:05:09.800 --> 0:05:13.040 know that, you know, the community with us, and we're 0:05:13.040 --> 0:05:16.080 seeing that and that really helps keep our members up 0:05:16.120 --> 0:05:18.280 and about and focused on en roll. They understand their 0:05:18.320 --> 0:05:20.960 role and they're very good at functions. But to know 0:05:21.080 --> 0:05:25.400 the community is supportive and people are feeling for them 0:05:25.520 --> 0:05:30.480 an emotionally is a huge thing for us. 0:05:30.760 --> 0:05:31.279 I'm glad. 0:05:31.960 --> 0:05:34.640 Can I ask you about and Look, I get that 0:05:34.720 --> 0:05:38.000 it's intel, so you don't want to, you know, dissect 0:05:38.160 --> 0:05:43.440 the investigation. Are you confident that this bloke is alive? 0:05:43.800 --> 0:05:44.880 Is there a chance he's dead? 0:05:45.880 --> 0:05:49.080 Look, I think we've said it probably for a while 0:05:49.120 --> 0:05:51.920 out I said it yesterday. We're open to all options 0:05:52.600 --> 0:05:57.000 in terms of an investigation. We don't eliminate any options 0:05:57.040 --> 0:06:00.960 until we're absolutely confident that they've gone So all the 0:06:01.000 --> 0:06:04.000 options are available. We still have a view and we're 0:06:04.040 --> 0:06:06.640 working on a view that he might be contained within 0:06:06.720 --> 0:06:09.320 the area, that he may be being harbored by somebody 0:06:09.480 --> 0:06:12.080 outside of the area for our search, or that he 0:06:12.160 --> 0:06:14.800 said all of those viable options that we're working to. 0:06:14.880 --> 0:06:18.680 We don't close our minds to any option. We just 0:06:18.720 --> 0:06:21.400 continue to work with a view that all of them 0:06:21.440 --> 0:06:23.200 are things we need to work our way through to 0:06:23.320 --> 0:06:28.600 establish the truth of them, or alternatively eliminates them as 0:06:28.600 --> 0:06:30.719 a viable option. At this stage, all of them are 0:06:30.760 --> 0:06:31.800 still on the table. 0:06:31.640 --> 0:06:35.120 Right and just quickly the one million dollar reward still 0:06:35.120 --> 0:06:35.560 in place. 0:06:36.160 --> 0:06:38.640 Yeah, absolutely, and you know we've we've. 0:06:38.440 --> 0:06:42.360 Had done on that scale. Yeah. 0:06:43.240 --> 0:06:45.520 And in terms of it for arrest, it's not. It's 0:06:45.560 --> 0:06:49.480 not for conviction, which is which is an unusual an 0:06:49.520 --> 0:06:52.600 unusual piece, but it's all we normally normally it's information 0:06:52.760 --> 0:06:55.600 leading to a conviction. But with what we're saying me 0:06:55.760 --> 0:06:58.400 is if you can give us information that leads him 0:06:58.440 --> 0:07:02.120 to be arrested, then there than the reward, then triggers. 0:07:02.120 --> 0:07:06.360 And we've had over twelve hundred different information reports come 0:07:06.440 --> 0:07:08.560 in now and we continue to get them. And we 0:07:08.600 --> 0:07:11.200 would say to any community member who has any information 0:07:11.320 --> 0:07:14.720 out there, please call us information. 0:07:14.800 --> 0:07:15.520 We need money. 0:07:15.600 --> 0:07:18.240 Too many time wasted with that though, people that think 0:07:18.280 --> 0:07:21.000 that oh we might you know, just put our case 0:07:21.080 --> 0:07:23.520 we get a cut of that. Yeah. 0:07:23.560 --> 0:07:25.600 Look, there's there's no doubt get we get information that 0:07:25.680 --> 0:07:28.960 isn't isn't valid or viable, but that we would we wouldn't. 0:07:29.000 --> 0:07:31.520 We wouldn't at this stage. I wouldn't encourage them not 0:07:31.560 --> 0:07:33.880 to ring in. Let us make the decisions around that 0:07:34.600 --> 0:07:38.000 because orderately, and I think you know it's important in 0:07:38.080 --> 0:07:41.240 terms of the conversation this week, well, now that we've 0:07:41.280 --> 0:07:43.200 said to people you can return to the high country. 0:07:43.200 --> 0:07:44.840 We'll have people who have holiday houses up there who 0:07:45.040 --> 0:07:46.960 haven't been there for a few weeks. In fact, with 0:07:47.080 --> 0:07:49.480 school holidays coming up, they're probably planning to up there. 0:07:49.800 --> 0:07:52.040 We need to know immediately they are right, if there's 0:07:52.080 --> 0:07:54.320 something not right, if they look and say, you know, 0:07:54.480 --> 0:07:58.680 someone has been here or someone because these pieces of 0:07:58.720 --> 0:08:01.840 information will help us that we don't have at the moment, 0:08:01.880 --> 0:08:03.760 and it might be the bit of information that leads 0:08:03.840 --> 0:08:06.400 us to somewhere else that leads us to his capture. 0:08:06.480 --> 0:08:08.240 And just finally, is it fair to say, Russell, you 0:08:08.280 --> 0:08:12.600 won't stop until you put a full stop on this. Yeah. 0:08:12.640 --> 0:08:18.440 Absolutely, our investigation and you know we will continue to 0:08:18.440 --> 0:08:21.720 reassess our operational deployment to this and and what is 0:08:21.800 --> 0:08:26.960 needed to actually achieve outcomes in the investigation. So there's 0:08:27.000 --> 0:08:29.080 no doubt that there will be a change in temper 0:08:29.160 --> 0:08:31.280 if we don't find him in search, because our ground 0:08:31.320 --> 0:08:34.200 search is only one element. But the actual investigation will 0:08:34.200 --> 0:08:37.200 not stop, and an investigation is far broader than just 0:08:37.240 --> 0:08:39.480 the ground search. And I can tell the community and 0:08:39.559 --> 0:08:42.679 tell you for him, and if he's listening, our resolve 0:08:42.760 --> 0:08:45.400 will not change. We will continue to investigate until we 0:08:45.600 --> 0:08:48.079 reach conclusion in this matter, until he's arrested and brought 0:08:48.120 --> 0:08:51.440 before the justice. I can guarantee that, God. 0:08:51.320 --> 0:08:55.040 Said Acting Deputy Commissioner Russell Barrett, joining us on the air. 0:08:55.080 --> 0:08:58.120 Hey Russell, good luck and great work you guys are doing. Mate. 0:08:58.200 --> 0:08:59.840 Yeah, thanks for joining us. We love Victoria. 0:09:00.120 --> 0:09:01.920 They're a big part of our show and our family 0:09:01.960 --> 0:09:04.440 here as well, so we're thinking of you all and 0:09:04.760 --> 0:09:06.040 we wish you all the very best. 0:09:06.040 --> 0:09:08.480 Thanks, thanks Russell, thank you, Thank you everyone. 0:09:08.520 --> 0:09:10.520 I'll tell you what a million bucks you know, if 0:09:10.559 --> 0:09:13.280 there are people trying to help him money talks. 0:09:13.200 --> 0:09:14.120 Oh, I sure hope. 0:09:14.160 --> 0:09:18.680 So you know, Yeah, it's it's just a terrible, terrible, 0:09:19.120 --> 0:09:20.240 terrible circumstance. 0:09:20.320 --> 0:09:22.320 So hopefully it's good sorted out. 0:09:22.360 --> 0:09:23.719 Tell you what's a good point what he said, like 0:09:23.760 --> 0:09:25.880 people returning to the holiday home. Yeah, you see something 0:09:26.000 --> 0:09:26.520 out of place. 0:09:26.640 --> 0:09:28.800 And also the community up there has suffered a lot 0:09:28.840 --> 0:09:31.000 through no fault of their own, so please get out 0:09:31.000 --> 0:09:34.560 and support small businesses, support where you can and try 0:09:34.600 --> 0:09:35.840 and help out us. With a woman on the news 0:09:35.840 --> 0:09:38.040 who owned cafe and she'd lost twenty thousand dollars in 0:09:38.120 --> 0:09:40.480 revenue over the last couple of weeks, so if you can, 0:09:40.520 --> 0:09:46.480 please support local businesses up there. Jason, Lauren Lauren wake 0:09:46.600 --> 0:09:51.640 up feeling good following them on the socials.