Apprehending Dezi Freeman: ‘Something has to be done’

On 7 December 2011, a police officer from the Tactical Operations Unit was shot by the fugitive during an unsuccessful operation to capture Naden in bushland near Nowendoc.  Naden was captured on 22 March 2012 in a run-down cabin approximately 30km west of Gloucester by heavily armed officers from the Tactical Operations Unit in a night operation. 

Naden was charged with the January and June 2005 murders of two young women, aggravated indecent assault on a 15-year-old girl in 2004, and shooting with intent to murder a police officer in 2011, while he was on the run.  Naden pleaded guilty to all 32 counts against him and was sentenced to life imprisonment plus 40 years without parole in June 2013.

The third case involved former most wanted fugitives, father and son Gino and Mark Stocco.  The pair had been on the run for 8 years, though they were not noted for camping in the bush.  The criminals instead preyed on trusting farmers along the east coast of Australia.  They traded labour for board until minor arguments caused them to snap.  The duo would then burn equipment, destroy property and steal firearms. 

As NSW and Victorian police closed in on the pair they twice shot at police.  The pair also shot dead the caretaker of a property where cannabis was grown.  After they were caught, they pleaded guilty to one count of murder, one charge of arson, and two counts of shooting to avoid apprehension.  The Stoccos stole goods, broke machinery and burnt buildings, causing damage worth millions of dollars during their time on the run.  In one act of vengeance, they drilled holes in almost 100 tyres.  In October 2015, after ramming a police car and drawing further attention to themselves, they became the subject of a nationwide manhunt. They were eventually arrested at a farm near Dunedoo in central New South Wales. 

There are several lessons to be learnt from these three cases.  Firstly, it seems futile to invest extensive resources in the search for a criminal with well-developed bush survival skills, unless the authorities possess accurate intelligence.  Secondly, when police stumble unprepared upon an armed suspect in their home environment, there is a high risk to police lives.

Returning to the Dezi Freeman case, it is clear that the Victorian police now have no firm idea of where he is or if he is alone or receiving assistance.  He could still be in the bush, or he could be long gone and staying with a sympathiser far away from the search area.  Nevertheless, police are conducting what has been labelled the "largest ever tactical policing operation" in Australia's history and have searched hundreds of properties and extensive areas of bushland. 

About 400 officers including specialist teams from interstate and abroad reportedly were searching at the height of the operation but that number has since been scaled back to about 200.  Police have also searched properties as far away as Benalla and Shepparton.  The early days of the search were characterised by very inclement weather.  It is hard to imagine what searchers could achieve in such conditions and it must have been very uncomfortable for police exposed to the elements.

While alleged double murder is a good reason to want Freeman apprehended, and police naturally are motivated to catch someone accused of killing two or their own, common sense needs to apply.

A police spokesman has stated that by the time the search is completed the cost “may well be into the millions”, causing “a major impact on the police operating budget”.  Simple arithmetic suggests that the cost in police resources alone has got to be well over $5 million to date and could be a lot more.  Clearly resources have been moved away from other crime fighting in a state that is said to be short 2000 officers. 

With little in the way of firm intelligence and no further sightings, it is hard to avoid concluding that the extent of the police search is over-kill and seemingly futile.  It would have been better to rely on a smaller search and await good intelligence, since manhunts like Freeman’s can go on for years.  Freeman for all his faults does not seem to be hostile to the general public, though his form suggests that he may be highly dangerous to any police that stumble across him.

Following weeks without a sighting of Freeman, police have reduced restrictions around Porepunkah and Bright.  Cadaver dogs have even been deployed, presumably in case he has perished or has taken his own life.  On September 15, the government announced a $2.5 million support package for businesses that had suffered losses during the search.  Bright and District Chamber of Commerce claimed that after more than a month following the disruptions, businesses were yet to hear from the government.  Additionally, a $1 million reward and the possibility of indemnity for information leading to his capture has been offered.

We should not hold our breath awaiting a quick outcome to the search for Dezi Freeman.  My guess is that the full cost to the taxpayer will end up easily exceeding $20 million.  The manhunt could drag on for years, irrespective of whether he is still alive or not.  The difficulties with the search will not stop further waste in the short term, assuming a major search continues.  Then again it is only taxpayers money, and Victoria has so much debt that nobody will notice some millions more.