Corporal Everton CampbellLESS THAN a week after Police Commissioner Francis Forbes publicly stated his dissatisfaction with the manner in which some policemen were protecting themselves, the life of another was snuffed out by gunmen in Kingston, Thursday night.
He is Corporal Everton Campbell, a 26-year veteran of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), who is also the 13th policeman killed by gunmen since January.
The police force says the motive for the killing was clearly robbery, but Minister of National Security, Dr. Peter Phillips, suggested that it was another case of the police being targeted.
The death cast a pall of gloom over the Waterford Police Station in St. Catherine, his base, yesterday.
Allegations are that the 45-year-old policeman had gone to the Deanery Road area of Kingston to collect a gift from somebody who recently returned from overseas.
"I saw him for the last time yesterday (Thursday) about 10:00 a.m. We spoke and I told him that I was going to St. Elizabeth, he asked me greet his relatives for him. But, I understand that his girlfriend, who is living abroad, sent something for him. The person who brought it was staying in that area, so he went for it," said Sergeant Loderick White of the Waterford Station.
Information reaching The Gleaner is that the corporal and a friend went to collect the item. They later stopped at the Deanery House bar and restaurant, located on Deanery Road, where they got involved in a game of dominoes.
"He has a stomach problem so I know he (Campbell) was not drinking," said Sergeant White.
It is understood that Corporal Campbell's friend got up and was in the process of paying his bill at the counter, when four gunmen entered the premises and began robbing patrons. Allegations are that Mr. Campbell, who was standing at the door, was searched by one of the gunmen who held onto his service revolver. The policeman was dragged outside and, during a tussle, he was shot several times.
A resident of New Come Valley district in St. Elizabeth, Mr. Campbell was enlisted in the JCF on August 16, 1976. He is survived by four children, including a 10-year-old boy now living in the United Kingdom.
Assistant Commissioner in charge of crime Osbourne Dyer, said the motive was clearly robbery.
Bur Dr. Phillips said it is evident that certain segments of the society have declared war on the state, and have decided to target police officers.
Human rights group, Jamaicans For Justice (JFJ), said it was extremely distressing that the nation should lose yet another member of its police force to violent crime.
JFJ said the nation could not afford the continuation of the bloodshed which has stained the collective psyche, nor could it afford to lose another member of its undermanned police force.
