Mark Beckford, Staff Reporter

Inspector Linroy Edwards (left), Constable Rayon Curath (centre) and Inspector Victor Hamilton reflect as they look on a photograph of Constable Lazano McFarlane who was shot and killed by gunmen yesterday in the Cassava Piece community of St Andrew. Constable McFarlane is the second policeman to be killed since the start of the year. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

After a near miss in Central Village, St Catherine, in the early hours of the morning where one of his colleagues was shot and injured, Constable Lazano McFarlane, 28, who was stationed at the Mobile Reserve, was later killed in a shoot-out with gunmen in the Cassava Piece community of St Andrew yesterday.

His death brings the number of policemen killed since the start of the year to two.

Constable McFarlane's day involved going to the aid of a police party which was under fire by gunmen in Central Village, where his colleague was shot.

He was then sent on what was to be his last assignment on Mannings Hill Road when he, along with other police personnel, responded to a shooting.

His demise began when Damion Burgess, 26, a wanted man who was accompanied by some of his cronies went to Mannings Hill Road and shot two persons, one fatally.

Burgess had reportedly gone there to avenge the death of his brother, 27- year-old Alton Burgess, who was shot on Glen Drive in Cassava Piece on Monday night.

While on his way from his deadly escapade, Burgess was confronted by a police party which included Constable McFarlane. Burgess and his accomplices ran from the police but were cornered in the Cassava Piece community by another police contingent.

McFarlane

Burgess then engaged the first police party in a shoot-out and Constable McFarlane and another policeman were shot. Burgess also engaged the second party in a shoot-out when he was shot and killed. His other cronies made good their escape.

This occurred around 8:00 a.m. yesterday.

The Gleaner understands that a third policeman was shot but narrowly escaped death after the bullet lodged in his bullet-proof vest.

Sad loss

When The Gleaner visited the Mobile Reserve headquarters at South Camp Road yesterday, head of the unit, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Donald Pusey, was seen engaged in conversation regarding the death of the constable. When he later spoke to The Gleaner, he indicated that the policeman killed was a young member of the Reserve and that it was a sad loss.

"He was fairly new, a Christian and hard working. It is sad all around," ACP Pusey said.

Inspector Victor Hamilton, subofficer at Mobile Reserve, also expressed sadness at the loss of Constable McFarlane who joined the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) in February 2007.

"He will be sadly missed. It was quite a sombre mood and in my parade, we observed a minute's silence and tears flowed freely."

Minister of National Security Derrick Smith praised the gallantry of the young policeman and expressed condolences to his family, other relatives, friends and colleagues in the JCF.

"His death is very unfortunate, but we must appreciate the fact that he died defending the rights of our citizens to protection from criminal elements, including ruthless murderers, who continue to show little respect for the laws of the country or the rights of their fellow Jamaicans," he said.

Some 19 policemen were killed last year.