Brave Walsh St cops honoured 30 years on

Thirty years after two police officers were gunned down on a Melbourne street, no one has been convicted of murder, but their families and the force will never forget them.

Constables Steven Tynan, 22 and Damian Eyre, 20, were shot dead on October 12, 1988 in what has become known as the Walsh Street shootings.

The pair were attending to an abandoned car in South Yarra when ambushed.

Four men were acquitted of the murders in 1991.

Constables Tynan and Eyre on Friday posthumously received Valour Awards for their service.

Dad Frank Eyre, who also served in the force for 46 years, said the award wasn't something a parent looked forward to but it was an important day for their family, and late son.

"They did the job exactly the way as they were taught to do it," he said.

"He always wanted to join the police force. Damian was gathering scrapbooks about police."

Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton said it was a "planned slaying" of officers going about their job, and the crime put officers on edge every time there was a report of an abandoned car.

Victoria's most senior police officer also paid his respects to the young constables and said their legacy is still remembered.

"No young person leaves that academy without knowing of the experiences of what this day is about. It is important that they remember," Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton told reporters at the service.

"We will continue to make sure we remember those two young men every year into the future."