National Security Minister Derrick Smith and the Acting Police Commissioner, Jevene Bent, have strongly condemned the killing of Constable Richard Harrison, who was shot dead on Bay Farm Road in Olympic Gardens yesterday morning.

Mr. Smith has called on members of the public to give information which would lead to the apprehension of constable Harrison's killers.

"Constable Harrison has been in the force for four years, and the manner in which he was killed, again, shows how brutal a society we live in and the intent of a minority group in trying to wreak havoc," Smith said.

For her part, Ms. Bent said that she shared the grief of the family of Constable Harrison and encouraged friends and colleagues to be extremely supportive at this time.

She also encouraged members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force to continue to serve the nation with courtesy and respect for all, and not to be daunted by the cowardly attack.

Reports from the police are that at about 12:20 a.m yesterday morning, Harrison and another man were travelling in a Toyota Corolla motor car along Bay Farm Road, when on reaching a section of the roadway he came upon a roadblock.

Constable Harrison was attempting to reverse the vehicle when two gunmen who were waiting in ambush opened fire. Constable Harrison died on the spot, while the other man was taken to hospital where he was admitted in stable condition.

Constable Harrison is the 15th policeman to have been killed since the start of the year.