THE Clarendon police have come in for harsh criticisms from Jamaica Observer online readers over claims that they were tardy in responding to distress calls Sunday night from members of a family in Bryan's Hill in the parish. Forty-five-year-old Maxine Fearon was shot and killed while her daughter was shot and injured allegedly by an ex-Jamaica Defence Force soldier said to be the estranged husband of the daughter. The story was published yesterday. Below are some edited comments:

Robert Collie

This happened Sunday [night] and is only just now being reported? Jah know, can we at least get a picture of this guy so we know who to watch out for or who to look for?

Yadda

The police ought to be embarrassed. After a whole hour of calling and they were nowhere on the scene -- a whole hour. SHAME.

cbJohn-NewYork

What's the point of calling the police if they are not going to come when called. The man tried for over an hour to get some police assistance, the relative who is also a police officer tried, and still nothing. So many lives are lost because of poor police response time in Jamaica. Something needs to be done.

Jamaica

These policemen, why do we pay them again? Oh, to only take set on motorists it seems.

Dayne Anderson

What is interesting here is that no one came to the woman's aide. We are no longer our brother's keeper. It is a sad day in Jamaica, when our women are abused this way.

Preciousone

@Dayne Anderson: Hmmm Dayne... everybody was running scared from the gunman. If somebody else had a gun then they would have fought back. Not much can be done but to run to save your own life. Sad, but it is the reality.

politicita

We are gone. Jamaica has ceased to exist.

Jl

Wow! Are people going nuts in Ja?

PLBOGLE

All over the world they're going nuts! They need Jesus.

Witheld

...My condolences to the families of both parties. Two sides to every story. You would be surprised.

Enos Anderson

Very heart-rending story. All police personnel on duty at the station at that time should be fired immediately.

Jp

She ran into a bar full of people and nobody could help her! What's wrong with these people?

1budge

I doubt Chapleton police even had a vehicle to respond to that call.

vanillasteve

How long until people realise that police come to write things down and take pictures of the blood. Police rarely prevent a crime as it is happening. People should be allowed to protect themselves and their families from criminals.

Hyulton Josephs

Whenever people come forward to join the police or the army, nothing bad about them is written on their faces, they appear harmless as a dove.