How Porepunkah locals were left on edge during Dezi Freeman search

The small town of Porepunkah can finally breathe again.

It's a small community on the way to the Victorian snowfields, a place that has become synonymous with Dezi Freeman, the man who killed two Victoria Police officers last year.

That tie has now been extinguished, with Freeman being shot dead by police this morning.

READ MORE: Accountant who refused to pay wages barred by tax watchdog

However, the scars still remain for locals.

"We've got a lot of press for all the wrong reasons," local resident Richard said.

"It's in the background, but it's not something that people tend to talk about."

Now all locals want is for the town to be able to move on.

"It means that we can forget about it. Move on. It's not a happy story."

Watch the full story in the video player above.