Reports from the police are that the policeman was in an area known as Cherry Tree in Four Paths, Clarendon, about 2:30 p.m. when he was shot and killed.

Operations Officer Deputy Superintendent of Police Patrick Murdock had initially refused to name the policeman, who has since been identified as Constable Clive Virgo.

Word on the ground is that Virgo was in search of a man wanted for the killing of a Clarendon businessman last week and was believed to have escaped into a cane field.

Still hunting

Up to press time last night, the police were still in the middle of a manhunt.

Residents had also reportedly burnt sections of the cane field in a bid to smoke out the the man. He is said to be approximately five feet 10 inches tall and is of slim build.

Last year, 11 police personnel were shot and kill by gunmen.