PRIME Minister Bruce Golding joined members of the police top brass yesterday in calling on members of the public to help the police to fight crime, and rid the country of the scourge that is taking the lives of those who have pledged to protect Jamaicans.

Addressing mourners at the funeral service for the two policemen - Constables Delano Lawrence and Cordel Grant - who were ambushed and killed by gunmen while on patrol in the tough, violence-prone St Andrew community of Trench Town on Labour Day, Golding condemned the slayings and called for community members to help the police do their jobs.

At left, Ann-Marie Benjamin, mother of Constable Cornel Grant's four-year-old son, Cornel Jnr, comforts the youngster who cries openly during Grant's funeral service yesterday. At right, Camelle Lawrence, widow of slain Constable Delano Lawrence and his son D'Jhevani Lawrence look through the programme at her husband's funeral service yesterday. (Photos: Joseph Wellington)

"We take too often the killings of members of the police force for granted that we criticise them for not doing enough as if they are the only ones responsible to protect us. We need to help the police to protect us, we Jamaicans must ensure that the our rights as citizens are protected, and also that the citizens are protected so they can enjoy those rights," Golding said.

His statements were echoed by Minister of National Security, Colonel Trevor MacMillan, DCP Jevene Bent and Superintendent Delroy Hewitt, commanding officer for the Kingston Western Division, who also called on members of the public to support the police in the fight against crime.

"We cannot retreat at this point, members of the community must take a stance," MacMillan said. "I must commend the residents of Trench Town who came out and demonstrated against the killings of the officers. It goes to show how successful we can be in the fight against crime and violence if we get all law-abiding citizens to assist the security forces in the fight against violent criminals who want to endanger our lives."

Scores of colleagues, relatives and friends crammed the Hagley Park Seventh-day Adventist Church to show condolence to the families of the slain officers.

It was a tearful send-off for the men and wails echoed from sections of the congregation as the reality of the officers' deaths hit home during a touching string of tributes made by some of the officers' close friends.

A despondent Camelle Lawrence, Grant's widow could not contain her grief as tears flowed down her cheeks while she hugged their eight-year-old son, D'Jhevani for comfort. The youngster sat quietly while his grandmother, Doreen Dunn, openly questioned the killer's motive for her son's death.

"Me baby Delano, why them have to kill my baby?" the woman bellowed even as she was comforted by a female relative.

Two pews behind Lawrence's family, a solemn Ann-Marie Benjamin, the mother of Grant's four-year-old son, Cornel Grant Jnr sat with tears streaming down her cheeks as she tried to console her son who apparently grew uncomfortable with the sombre mood which blanketed the church.

Both officers are among five policemen who have been murdered since the start of the year.

Two men suspected of being involved in their murders were shot and killed during a shoot-out in Spanish Town, St Catherine two days after their slayings and police say that they are hunting two other suspects.

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