1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:03,120 S1: This is the chief Commissioner of police, Mike Bush. 2 00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:16,680 S2: Good morning all. Thank you for joining us this morning. 3 00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:21,640 S2: As you know, I'll make a brief statement about Operation 4 00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:27,360 S2: Summit and then I'll be open for questions. I confirm 5 00:00:27,840 --> 00:00:31,640 S2: that this morning, Victoria Police, as the result of an 6 00:00:31,640 --> 00:00:36,519 S2: operation in the north east of Victoria, fatally shot a 7 00:00:36,520 --> 00:00:41,800 S2: man as a result of the operation into the shooting 8 00:00:41,800 --> 00:00:47,200 S2: of two police officers. Whilst it's being reported, that person 9 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:54,440 S2: is Desmond Freeman, we have to run through a very 10 00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:59,120 S2: formal identification process. So Victoria Police at this stage will 11 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:03,800 S2: not confirm the identity of that person until that process 12 00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:11,039 S2: has been undertaken. The The operation concluded this morning following 13 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:16,750 S2: a operation that has been ongoing since the 26th of 14 00:01:16,750 --> 00:01:22,600 S2: August last year. The operation was conducted by our professionals, 15 00:01:23,120 --> 00:01:31,240 S2: members of our special Operations group and Task Force Summit investigators. 16 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:37,800 S2: Whilst there will be a professional standards command and a 17 00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:42,160 S2: coroner's hearing into this matter, everything I know at this 18 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:51,320 S2: point tells me that this shooting was justified. As I said, 19 00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:59,960 S2: the operation was conducted by professionals from Victoria Police. The 20 00:01:59,960 --> 00:02:04,040 S2: very first people to be made aware of the outcome 21 00:02:04,600 --> 00:02:10,080 S2: of this operation were the families of the officers tragically 22 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:14,200 S2: killed on the 26th of August, And all of the 23 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:20,040 S2: members that were involved on that day. What I can say. 24 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:26,840 S2: Should it be confirmed that the deceased is. Freeman? This 25 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:34,359 S2: brings closure to what was a tragic and terrible event. 26 00:02:36,840 --> 00:02:41,800 S2: I would also like to acknowledge at this point the 27 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:50,080 S2: investigation team for their absolute professionalism, perseverance, persistence and diligence 28 00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:57,760 S2: and bringing this to a conclusion. We are privileged to 29 00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:04,399 S2: have these investigators as part of Victoria Police, and they 30 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:09,959 S2: were ably assisted by the entire organization. I would also 31 00:03:09,960 --> 00:03:17,040 S2: like to acknowledge our partners. Every jurisdiction across Australia and 32 00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:22,450 S2: New Zealand assisted in this operation. And as I stand here, 33 00:03:22,450 --> 00:03:25,370 S2: I have the lead investigators for this matter. And I 34 00:03:25,370 --> 00:03:28,530 S2: would just like to acknowledge and thank them for their 35 00:03:28,530 --> 00:03:40,730 S2: leadership again, in bringing this to a conclusion. I would 36 00:03:40,730 --> 00:03:45,730 S2: also like to acknowledge the community of poor Ponca and 37 00:03:45,730 --> 00:03:54,250 S2: the surrounding area for their patience. And their perseverance. Also, 38 00:03:56,130 --> 00:04:01,210 S2: this has had impact right across that part of Victoria. 39 00:04:02,610 --> 00:04:06,370 S2: People have felt unsafe. We've done everything we can to 40 00:04:06,370 --> 00:04:12,410 S2: assure them. But for them, this should bring this to 41 00:04:12,450 --> 00:04:17,530 S2: a conclusion. Just in closing, I would like to say 42 00:04:17,570 --> 00:04:22,250 S2: it's early days in terms of this phase of the investigation. 43 00:04:22,410 --> 00:04:25,650 S2: There's lots to be done. We will keep the The 44 00:04:25,650 --> 00:04:32,410 S2: public via the media, updated about how this matter unfolds 45 00:04:32,410 --> 00:04:36,090 S2: and has concluded. And I want to thank you for 46 00:04:36,089 --> 00:04:42,650 S2: your support and attention during this tough time. It's over 47 00:04:42,650 --> 00:04:47,930 S2: six months. And again, acknowledge the investigation team for their 48 00:04:47,930 --> 00:04:52,330 S2: persistence and perseverance. Thank you. I'll open up for questions. 49 00:04:52,570 --> 00:04:55,210 S1: Alright. That is Mike Busch, the chief police commissioner. So 50 00:04:55,210 --> 00:04:59,010 S1: he's not confirming that it's Desi Freeman. They still want 51 00:04:59,050 --> 00:05:04,210 S1: to undertake their investigations and so forth. It is clear 52 00:05:04,210 --> 00:05:08,049 S1: that Desi Freeman has been found not far from Paul Punker, um, 53 00:05:08,410 --> 00:05:11,650 S1: that he may well have been harbored by other another 54 00:05:11,650 --> 00:05:15,450 S1: person or people. Uh, it's been rumored that he was 55 00:05:15,450 --> 00:05:19,089 S1: found in a, in a buried shipping container, but, uh, 56 00:05:19,089 --> 00:05:21,490 S1: a man has been shot dead by police this morning. 57 00:05:21,490 --> 00:05:24,450 S1: It is believed to be Desi Freeman. And you can 58 00:05:24,450 --> 00:05:27,330 S1: imagine that Victoria Police will be feeling good about that. 59 00:05:27,330 --> 00:05:31,490 S1: Not good about shooting someone, but good that they have caught. Finally, 60 00:05:31,490 --> 00:05:32,729 S1: the poor punker gunman.