Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter
Inspector Lascelles Walsh, who was shot and killed by gunmen in downtown Kingston last Wednesday. - NORMAN GRINDLEY/DEPUTY CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
TWO DAYS before his tragic death, Inspector Lascelles Walsh and I had a brief encounter.
This took place at the Elletson Road Police Complex in downtown Kingston.
He was having lunch and I was making a quick stop at the CIB office. As usual 'Walshie', as he was popularly called, was in high spirits.
On my way out I waved to him and he responded "Ah right Glenroy." He was sitting on a bench with a fellow inspector.
Other members of the press and I grew to know the 44-year-old sub-officer during the 1980s while covering Manning and Walker Cup football games at the Stadium East playing field.
He would park his motorcycle on the outside, then walk on to the infield. Wherever the reporters or other knowledgeable sports persons were, he would sit or stand among them and later get involved in the conversation.
ARDENT CRICKET FAN
A graduate of Papine Secondary School in St. Andrew, Inspector Walsh, who was born and raised in Gordon Town, St. Andrew, was also an ardent cricket fan. He was a well-mannered member of the police force. He was approachable and was always willing to help.
Inspector Walsh was brutally killed early last Wednesday morning, near the intersection of Church and Port Royal streets in downtown Kingston. He was attired in his uniform and was riding his service motorcycle. He was heading to Portmore, St. Catherine, where he was in charge of the traffic department.
In the mornings, he would normally be seen in the vicinity of the National Commercial Bank in Portmore, manning the flow of traffic heading into Kingston and on the alert for delinquent drivers.
He met his untimely death seconds after he stopped at the traffic light. A car with heavily-armed men aboard drove up beside him and began shooting. Taken by surprise, the inspector was shot 15 times.
It took me two days to really come to grips with Inspector Walsh's death.
