Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Coordinator

After the vicious killing of four policemen over the past four weeks, plus the stabbing of a constable in Rockfort, Kingston, and the mob beating of another in St. Mary, another member of the police force was again attacked by gunmen.

Reports are that 66-year-old District Constable Lloyd Thomas was held at gunpoint and forced into a car by a lone gunman, who drove a few chains away from the Morant Bay taxi stand in St. Thomas, before robbing him of his salary and retroactive payment, which amounted to $65,000.

"When him pointed the gun at me, I think he was going to kill me. Anyhow I did refuse to go in the car, he would have killed me," said a shaken Mr. Thomas, who has been a district constable for the past 20 years, and is currently attached to the Llandewey Police Station, St. Thomas.

Deceptive strategy

The incident occurred while he was returning from a bank in Morant Bay. At first, he was approached by a man who offered to pray for him and extended an invitation to attend a crusade.

Immediately after, Mr. Thomas said he was approached by another man who pulled a firearm from his hip and forced him into a parked vehicle. The man drove the car a few chains away, then picked up another man. The men robbed him and then chased him out of the car. The district constable was unarmed.

Head of the St. Thomas Police Division, Superintendent Steve McGreggor, said he heard about the incident and that he has instructed a team of investigators to probe the matter.

Apart from being a policeman, Mr. Thomas, who is popularly known as 'Maas Lloyd' in the Llandewey community, is highly respected as a first-class carpenter and mason.