Questions over why elite SOG cops weren’t sent to handle Freeman arrest
Dezi Freeman had a long-documented hatred of police and was known to use several firearms. Police sources say that should have automatically triggered the SOG involvement in his initial arrest.
Senior police sources have questioned why the highly skilled Special Operations Group was not involved in the initial warrant to apprehend now infamous alleged double cop killer.
Freeman had a long-documented hatred of police and was known to use several firearms, which sources said should have automatically triggered SOG involvement.
Instead, a beefed-up 10-man police team from the sexual offences and child abuse investigation team was sent in.
The Herald Sun has been told some of those members may not have been wearing a ballistic vest.
Leading Senior Constable Neal “Thommo” Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart were killed carrying out the warrant.
A third officer was shot in the leg and has undergone surgery.
A high-level detailed investigation, from the application of the search warrant to all the subsequent events, will now take place.
“We knew he had a hatred of police, he openly told us – on many, many occasions,” one source said.
“He called us friggin’ Nazis, terrorist thugs, the Gestapo and corrupt filth – and that was in a courtroom.
“Can you imagine what he called us to our face?
“We also knew he previously had, and used, firearms.
“This should have triggered at least four SOG to clear the area before detectives or officers went in.”
He added: “They (SOG) have the body armour that can withstand a shotshell and the weapons to take him out if he opened fire. Or he would have surrendered and they could have served the warrant.
“Either way, two officers would still be alive today.”
The Herald Sun has been told the warrant was a category one, the lowest level, which did not meet the threshold of additional specialist units being used.
A category two prompts the critical incident response team involvement, while category three triggers SOG attendance.
It is not known if the intelligence on Freeman was checked before the warrant was applied for.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Russell Barrett vowed the force would “not rest” until Freeman was caught.
“We have every available asset, every capability that Victoria Police has and we have assistance from other policing organisations here on the ground in an effort to quickly apprehend the offender,” he said.
“That’s our purpose and we will not rest until it occurs.
“We’re focused on our purpose to apprehend the offender and bring him before the courts.”
Deputy Commissioner Barrett said the hunt had been hampered by the thick bush around Mt Buffalo.
“It’s complex terrain, and it’s not something that we, even with our specialist resources, can move through quickly, because it’s dangerous terrain as well,” he said.
He also sent a direct message to the fugitive, calling on him to surrender.
“We will support you through a surrender plan,” Acting Deputy Commissioner Barrett said.
“That option is open.”
On the third day of the search for self-proclaimed sovereign citizen Freeman, SOG operatives descended on at least two properties nearby the 56-year-old’s Rayner Track home.
Two loud bangs were heard near the property on Thursday afternoon and smoke could be seen billowing from a farm shed.
One possibility is that police tossed a flash grenade into the shed to scare the fugitive off, but it was unclear if he was present.
Exclusive vision obtained by the Herald Sun showed concerned neighbours pointing officers to bushland behind their home in Mt Buffalo Rd as heavily armed SOG members surrounded the property.
The operatives trained their guns on the home for several minutes while other officers walked towards the back of the house and into the shed.
A short time later, a sudden noise caught the attention of the police, who then scanned bushland behind the home with their guns still drawn.
After clearing the home, the tactical team patrolled a nearby track.
They then swarmed the bushland near where the two officers were killed on Tuesday.
Heavily armed officers ventured into the bush from two points – one at Rayner Track and the other via a driveway.
Police and the dog squad scoured the bush for hours in conditions that made the manhunt incredibly difficult.
When it wasn’t pouring with rain, driving hail smashed the region.
Temperatures were again due to drop to almost zero with a “blizzard” possible for the alpine region overnight.
A convoy of police vehicles, including two BearCats, left the search area about 5.30pm as darkness grew. A police dog stuck its head out of one of the vehicles as it drove past the waiting media pack.
