Corporal Peter Salkey

Nagra Plunkett, Assignment Coordinator

WESTERN BUREAU:

The church community has expressed outrage at the shooting of police Corporal Peter Salkey and his church brother, Junior McKenzie, as they talked after a church service in Westmoreland Thursday night.

"Crime has got to a stage where we are producing a generation that has no regard for God and is adept in sacrilege," said Pastor Glen Samuels, president of the West Jamaica Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

Two gunmen reportedly attacked the policeman and McKenzie, shortly after 9:00 p.m. Thursday at the Bethel Town Seventh-day Adventist Church as they stood by the policeman's car.

It is said that the 35-year-old cop sustained gunshot wounds to the abdomen and chest. The gunmen did not take his service revolver.

"I ordained Salkey two weeks ago as an elder. He is one that is held in high regard within the church. We are really saddened and distressed," continued Pastor Samuels. "Both men were coming from a men's ministry meeting where they were discussing plans for a mentor(ship) programme to benefit the men in the community."

Appeal for blood

An appeal for blood was made yesterday morning for Corporal Salkey, whose condition is described as critical. His church brother also remains hospitalised, in stable condition.

"The entire (St James) division is outraged by the shooting of Corporal Salkey, especially noting the fact that he was at church. We are praying earnestly that he pulls through and we will relentlessly pursue his attackers," said Deputy Superintendent Paul Stanton.

Salkey is attached to the St James Police Community Relations Department and also functions as a Constabulary Communication Network liaison officer for the parish.

This is the lawman's second close encounter with armed thugs as he was among several policemen who were pinned down in Canterbury, Montego Bay, during the October 2003 eight-hour gun battle.

A man, who was named as a person of interest in relation to the incident, turned himself over to the police in the Corporate Area yesterday.