A new police taskforce has been established to continue the search for Dezi Freeman, who is wanted for allegedly killing two police officers. The taskforce, named Taskforce Summit, will operate in the Great Alpine area of Victoria, Australia. This comes as Mount Buffalo National Park, which had been closed during the investigation, is set to fully reopen to the public.

Freeman, also known as Desmond Filby, has been on the run since August 26, when he allegedly shot and killed police officers Neal Thompson and Vadim de Waart-Hottart while they were serving a warrant at his home in Porepunkah, located about 300 kilometers northeast of Melbourne. The manhunt has involved hundreds of officers, with over 400 deployed immediately after the incident. The number of officers involved was reduced to more than 200 in September.

Assistant Commissioner Martin O'Brien of Victoria Police stated, "This investigation is far from over." He emphasized the commitment of the police to utilize every available resource to locate Freeman. The taskforce will include detectives from various units, including the Crime Command, Fugitive Squad, Armed Crime Squad, VIPER Taskforce, Special Operations Group, and Search and Rescue Squad, along with local air support.

The search has been extensive, covering dense bushland and parts of Mount Buffalo National Park. Since the start of the investigation, detectives have reviewed over 1,700 pieces of intelligence, including tips from the public. However, none of these leads have yet resulted in locating Freeman.

O'Brien urged the public to assist in the investigation, saying, "I strongly urge anyone with any information at all, no matter how small you think it may be, to come forward and contact Crime Stoppers." He noted that this could include sightings of Freeman or any suspicious activity in local communities. The police have assured that tips can be submitted anonymously.

A reward of up to $1 million is being offered for information leading to Freeman's arrest, marking the largest reward in the state's history for such a case. Authorities have advised residents in the area to remain vigilant and to avoid approaching Freeman, who is considered armed and dangerous.

As the search continues, police have increased patrols in the area and have embedded members of the Public Order Response Team at local police stations in Bright and Myrtleford. The reopening of Mount Buffalo National Park is expected to allow for more public engagement while the search for Freeman persists.