BADGE AND BEYOND
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02 Images Now and Then 01 As a young graduate. 02 Mr Frame is still connected to Victoria Police through family who are in the job. 03 In 1988 as Deputy Commissioner. 03
JOHN FRAME Former Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner John Frame tells Police Life about his policing experiences and life after retirement. “During my 32-year policing career, one thing I’ll never forget was dealing with the response to the brutal and cold-blooded murders of constables Steven Tynan and Damian Eyre. It was without a doubt the most difficult matter I’d been involved with. A more positive job was when I managed a three-day siege at the Bendigo Gaol where an offender had taken a number of prison staff hostage. Luckily, that was resolved peacefully and without injury. Policing was a challenging, yet rewarding career. In 1986, I became staff officer to Chief Commissioner Mick Miller and was later promoted to assistant, then deputy commissioner.
I really enjoyed playing a senior leadership role and working with the dedicated men and women who made up Victoria Police, as well as Aboriginal and ethnic community groups, who I found to be very keen to foster relationships. Throughout my policing career I loved helping people and giving closure to victims of crime. After retiring in 1993, I worked as director of security and loss prevention for Coles Group Limited (formerly Coles Myer Limited) for five years. Although the culture was quite different to that of Victoria Police, alongside a small team, I was able to make improvements to the workplace and I’m sure my policing background assisted with this. As I like to keep myself busy and community involvement is important to me, I’ve been a member of a range of government and non-government agency boards. I’m currently a member of the Police Registration and Services Board and determine disciplinary reviews and appeals against non-promotion or selection of police. The role keeps me very much in touch with Victoria Police, as does having a son and daughter-in-law in the job.”
HIGHLIGHT ON FRAME 1961
Appointed Constable
1962 – Worked at Footscray, Geelong, 1976 Sunshine and Altona police stations 1969 – Fraud and Homicide squads 1972 1974
Instructor at the Detective Training School
1981
Inspector at Internal Investigations Bureau
1986
Presented with National Medal and Clasp
1986
Appointed Assistant Commissioner
1988
Appointed Deputy Commissioner
1990
Received the Australian Police Medal
1993
Retired
2001
Presented with Centenary Medal
If you know a former police officer who would like to share their interesting career during and beyond policing, contact policelife-mgr@police.vic.gov.au via email.
Editorial: Mandi Santic Photography: Clay Burke 30
POLICE LIFE | SUMMER 2015