Porepunkah, a small town 300 kilometers northeast of Melbourne, has been the scene of a double tragedy. This tragic case took the lives of two police officers. The ambush happened Tuesday morning in the city’s East Side neighborhood while the officers were serving a drug-related search warrant on a suspected dealer. The gunman remains at large. Local authorities are advising residents to remain indoors and to avoid coming to the affected area until further notice.
With a population of about 1,000 residents, Porepunkah has been shaken by the events that unfolded around 10:30 AM. As many as ten police officers responded to the property in the small town on Friday where they came upon Johnson, the shooting suspect. Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush described the attack as an “ambush.” He opened by underscoring the risks officers face every day in their protection of the community.
The two officers who were killed in the incident have been identified as a 59-year-old male detective and a 35-year-old senior constable. A third officer was critically injured and is undergoing surgery at this time. In a statement, Commissioner Bush said he was devastated by the loss. He reminded everyone about the dangers that police put themselves in every single day.
“They were met by the offender, and they were murdered in cold blood,” – Mike Bush
The authorities are continuing to track down the suspect, who was previously known to police before the incident. They should have at least done a risk assessment prior to executing the search warrant. Authorities are reportedly still actively searching for the suspect’s wife and two kids. They have not been observed departing Porepunkah with him. Operation Encompass As part of this investigation, hundreds of police have been sent to Porepunkah and its township and borders.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reflected on the dangers faced by police officers across Australia, stating, “The men and women who wear our uniform and wear the uniform of the police force, take risks each and every day.” He understands that even one incident like this will leave permanent scars on police officers around the country.
“This is a terribly tragic event for the police family, not just here but across the country,” – Mike Bush
The ambush has spotlighted growing far-right extremism in Australia and anti-immigrant sentiment. Prime Minister Albanese acknowledged that ASIO had been sounding the alarm about this escalating threat. “We know that the director-general of ASIO has warned about far-right extremism,” he stated, emphasizing the need for vigilance.
“Policing is very unpredictable,” said Alex Caruana, a spokesperson for Victoria Police. “Policing is dangerous and unpredictable work, and what has happened in Porepunkah is a reminder of the risks officers face every day in keeping the community safe,” he said.
Victoria Police Association Secretary Wayne Gatt described what this tragic death would mean to police officers throughout Victoria. “They will go home and hug their families tighter than usual, in the sad and sobering knowledge that two of their colleagues lost that privilege in service of the community,” he noted.
As federal criminal investigations are underway, local community members continue to feel the effects and stay on high alert. The Victoria Police advises all residents and visitors in and around Porepunkah to remain indoors. They have an ongoing manhunt for the shooter.
“Our priority is to arrest him, to ensure he is held to account for his actions,” – Mike Bush
