SPANISH TOWN, St Catherine – A police constable who discharged his firearm at the graveside of a murdered colleague on Saturday in the presence of Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas and Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller was immediately taken into custody by the Spanish Town police for questioning and his firearm seized.

According to the police, the interment of Sergeant Edgerton Brown, who served in Simpson Miller’s security detail, was in progress when the constable, who is assigned to the Motorised Patrol Division, drew his service revolver from his waist and fired two shots in the air, scaring mourners.

The constable, police sources said, was dressed in civilian clothes and was standing close to Commissioner Thomas when he committed the act at Meadowrest Memorial Park, St Catherine.

A police source who was at the graveside told the Observer that the constable’s action infuriated Thomas. “The commissioner saw the policeman who did it and immediately instructed a superintendent from St Ann, who was also attending the funeral, to arrest the cop,” said the policeman, who asked not to be named. “His gun was seized and he was escorted to the Spanish Town Police Station where his hands were swabbed and investigations began.”

The police source said that when the constable was questioned, his excuse was that the dead cop was his squadmate and he was giving him “a personal gun salute”.

According to the source, the constable is likely to face two criminal charges for his action. “He can be charged with discharging his firearm within 40 yards of a public place and illegal possession of firearm and ammunition because he was not on duty at the cemetery,” the source said.

Sergeant Edgerton Brown was killed by gunmen on September 6 in the Sundown Crescent area of Molynes Road in Kingston. His killers stole his service revolver and motor car. The car was found a few hours later in a nearby community.