INSPECTOR VERNAL Hinds, a 26-year veteran of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), was shot and killed yesterday by gunmen at his home in Cedar Grove, Portmore, St. Catherine.
He is the ninth policeman to have been killed since the start of the year.
The 47-year-old Inspector was formerly attached to the Norman Manley Police Station in Kingston.
The Gleaner understands that the sub-officer was returning home from the country when he was attacked while in the process of opening his door.
ATTEMPTED TO ESCAPE
Evidence found at the scene suggested that the Inspector attempted to escape his attackers, but was cornered and shot. Preliminary investigations revealed that at least two men were seen running from the policeman's home at a little after 2:00 a.m. His service .380 pistol was taken by the gunmen.
This is the same housing scheme where a female inspector - Patricia Pryce - was killed three years ago. The killers slashed her throat while she was lying inside her bedroom.
Police Commissioner Francis Forbes yesterday condemned the killing of Inspector Hinds.
"These vicious persons have no regard for life. Their only aim is to disrupt the tranquillity and stability in our society. The police are working with the limited resources at our disposal to bring the perpetrators of this and other heinous crimes to justice," the Commissioner said in a statement.
Corporal Raymond Wilson, general secretary of the Police Federation, has called on the Government to make available adequate resources to the police for them to be better able to track cop killers and the perpetrators of other crimes.
