Victoria Police has announced a $1 million reward for information leading to the capture of fugitive Dezi Freeman. Freeman is accused of killing two police officers during an incident in August. He has been on the run for 12 days following a police operation at his property near Porepunkah, located in northeastern Victoria.

Authorities allege that the 56-year-old shot and killed two officers and injured a third before fleeing the scene on foot, armed with multiple weapons. This reward marks the largest ever offered in Victoria for an arrest. Previous $1 million rewards in the state have been tied to information leading to a conviction, not an arrest.

Homicide Squad Detective Inspector Dean Thomas emphasized the significance of the reward. "This figure recognizes the seriousness of this violent offending and our commitment to locating Freeman as soon as possible so that he is no longer a risk to the broader community," he stated. Thomas added that the reward aims to encourage individuals who may have hesitated to come forward to contact the police.

"There is no doubt that up to a million dollars is a life-changing amount of money for anyone and has the potential to completely change their circumstances," he said.

The police believe that the resolution of the manhunt will depend on public assistance. More than 450 officers are currently searching for Freeman in the challenging mountainous terrain around Porepunkah, where temperatures fell below freezing on Saturday.

Since the day of the shooting, there have been no confirmed sightings of Freeman. Authorities are considering multiple theories regarding his whereabouts, including the possibility that he is receiving assistance, is alone in the wilderness, or may already be deceased.

Freeman was last seen wearing dark green tracksuit pants, a dark green rain jacket, brown Blundstone boots, and reading glasses. Anyone with information about his location is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online.