They were reportedly running along the western bank of a section of the Rio Cobre (which runs through Gordon Pen), when the river bank crumbled and two policemen fell into the water. One policeman was rescued by residents, however the other disappeared underwater before help could reach him.

A major search involving police personnel, members of the Jamaica Defence Force and civilians has since been launched to find the missing policeman, and also to capture the gunmen who are still at large.

According to Nelson, cops killed in the line of duty should be given a national honour for gallantry, and “… as soon as the logistics are examined I promise you this wall will be erected so that the country can honour these brave men and women each year.”

The Editor, Sir

I REMEMBER Sheldon Williams, my classmate, running, kicking the football, having lunch under a mango tree at St Mary High in Highgate. We spoke about life now and then, but more so about how much of a troublemaker he was in class. We spoke about making it ‘big’. Unfortunately, he made it big. He made the headlines as a victim of the same unit he loved, protected and served .. more here

It may have been Prime Minister Bruce Golding hosting a fun day for the children of Tivoli Gardens, west Kingston, but the real rock star at the event was police Sergeant Nicholas Charlton … Charlton, a father of two children of his own, said the Tivoli Gardens children have grown attached to him over the past three months … more here

The Editor, Sir

It seems that something has gone awry with the Ocho Rios police personnel as Jamaica’s police force continues to spiral out of control.

The reported cold-blooded killing of 25-year-old Constable Sheldon Williams of St Mary at the hands of policemen from Ocho Rios on August 29 is not only crude, unnecessary and frightening, but is a grim warning to tourists and ordinary citizens of Jamaica … more

The dead policeman as been identified as Constable Sheldon Williams (also called ‘Sylvan’) of the police armoury in Kingston and a Gayle, St Mary address. According to reports, Williams was at a dance on a boat in the Ocho Rios area, where he allegedly discharged several rounds from his firearm in a gun salute during the party. Other police who were on the boat reportedly warned him for prosecution, and he was later picked up by a police team as he disembarked the boat.

He was taken to the Ocho Rios police station for processing, and his firearm confiscated. It is alleged that while being processed, Constable Williams grabbed his gun and fled the station. Other officers reportedly went in pursuit, and during a chase Williams allegedly began firing at them and injured one of the chase party. Williams was then shot and killed.

Meanwhile, earlier this morning, relatives and friends Williams protested in front of the Ocho Rios Police Station, claiming that he was murdered by his colleagues.

An entry-level police constable’s basic pay is $581,701 each year … $48,475 per month. They receive a housing allowance of $25,680 and get $13,270 for a set overtime period of 10 hours, which totals $87,425. Upper-level constables earn almost 10 per cent more.

At the top of the officer class — excluding the ranks of commissioner and deputy commissioner which are contracted posts — assistant commissioners at the top of the scale for that category moved from $4.7 million on April 1, 2008 to $6.27 million in basic salary last year, an increase of 33 per cent, or more than $1.5 million. Over the same period, those at the bottom of the scale moved from $4.06 million to $5.27 million, an increase of 30 per cent.

Deputy commissioners earn in the region of $6.5 million while the commissioner is paid between $8 and $10 million per annum.

According to reports, he was arrested after he allegedly collected money from a bus driver for the release of his vehicle from a pound. The bus driver’s bus was reportedly impounded two days ago, and it is alleged that the policeman wanted money in order for the vehicle to be released. The Anti-Corruption Branch was notified, and a sting operation was set up in the vicinity of the car pound. The policeman was then held after he reportedly pocketed the specially marked cash that was paid over to him during the sting operation.