Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer

SPANISH TOWN, St. Catherine:

The killing of a special constable in Portmore Monday night, brings to nine the number of policemen to have been killed by gunmen since the start of the year.

Dead is Conrad Reid, 22-year-old special constable who was attached to Harman Barracks and the Central Village Police Station, St. Catherine.

Reports reaching The Gleaner are that about 6:30 p.m. Mr Reid and another colleague were standing near a shopping plaza in West Cumberland, Portmore, when it is alleged that two men on foot approached them. They opened fire, hitting Reid all over his body. He died on the spot.

His colleague escaped unhurt.

When The Gleaner visited the scene, several of his colleagues and other bystanders had converged, with most expressing sadness at the gruesome killing of the lawman. Investigators removed several spent shells from the scene.

According to chairman of the Special Constabulary Association, Sergeant Christopher Bowen, the killing of the policeman shows how wicked the criminals are and the extent to which they will go to get at the police.

"Mr Reid was a very hard working policeman, he was attached to a special section of our operational unit and served the organisation for less than a year. It is very sad to see him go this way, " Bowen said.

Commissioner of Police, Lucius Thomas, expressed outrage at the brutal slaying of the 21 year-old Special Constable.

"The calculated and brutal nature of the slaying of Special Constable Reid is another example of how far criminals in the society will go to achieve their goals," Thomas said. The Commissioner, in his message of condolence to the family, friends, and colleagues of Mr. Reid, also urged members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, the ISCF and the Rural Police to be extremely vigilant and careful both on and off duty.