Robert Keith Boucher APM
Sixteenth Commissioner of St John Victoria District, 1999-2001
Bob Boucher was a career police officer. He served as a detective, a Law Instructor at the Police Academy, Chief Superintendent of Melbourne District and, finally, as Assistant Commissioner of Victoria Police until his retirement in 1997. He was the second Commissioner in Victoria not from a military or medical background. He was recruited on the recommendation of the Chief Commissioner of Police, who was a member of St John Council, under the mistaken impression that it was a largely ceremonial post.
Bob was President of the Baptist Union in Victoria which, in the year 2000, was host to the Baptist World Congress. Notwithstanding his heavy commitments with the Congress, he nevertheless gave enthusiastic and energetic contributions to St John activities whenever he could. However, he felt that he was unable to give the time necessary for the position and submitted his resignation before the end of his triennium. This led to the appointment of the District Medical Officer, Professor Jeffrey Rosenfeld, as his successor.
