MANCHESTER, Jamaica — A police corporal sustained wounds after he was shot in the chest during a gun battle with armed men in Spalding on Wednesday.

Spalding, although geographically located in Clarendon, falls under the control of the Manchester police.

Newly minted head of the Manchester police, Superintendent Carey Duncan told Observer Online that the corporal, who is a sub-officer, was among a team responding to a call in the Spalding area about midday when the incident happened.

“They responded to a call and went there to investigate. On their approach, they were fired on by a group of men. They (police) responded by returning the fire, and the policeman was hit in the chest. Thankfully, he was wearing is bullet proof vest,” said Duncan.

The injured cop was taken to hospital where he was treated and later released.

Superintendent Duncan said a Glock .40 pistol was seized at the scene of the shooting.

Just last week, a police constable was rushed to hospital for injuries he sustained during a robbery at a business establishment on Constant Spring Road in St Andrew.

READ: Policeman injured during robbery attempt in St Andrew

Prior to that, Constable Ricardo Fairclough of the St Ann Divisional Operational Support Unit was shot and killed in the line of duty when he responded to a robbery in the parish.

READ: UPDATE: Policeman shot and killed in St Ann identified

— Kasey Williams