THE police were on the hunt last night for Dalton James of Mount Salem, Montego Bay for yesterday’s murder of police inspector Rupert Gardner whose shooting was captured by a surveillance camera at the cambio where he gone to conduct personal business.

James, 30, also called Omar and Mickey, was taken into custody last week by Gardner on suspicion of the May 25th murder of Montego Bay businessman, Shao Jun Cen of Mount Salem.

“We had a difficulty getting witnesses to come forward,” said Senior Superintendent Owen Ellington, who is in charge of the St James police. “We couldn’t hold him any longer and he was released.”

James was described by the police as being of a light brown complexion, about five-foot nine inches tall and of slim to medium build, with small eyes and a scar on the right side of his face. He was also said to have a hoarse voice.

The police are also searching for a second man who was with James yesterday and have offered a $1-million reward for information leading to the capture and arrest of the policeman’s killers.

Gardner, a detective inspector, was the second policeman killed here in less than a week and the sixth so far this year.

Last night both national security minister, Peter Phillips, and police commissioner, Francis Forbes, deplored Gardner’s murder and called for the public’s help in confronting the country’s violent criminals.

“…Inspector Gardner’s slaying highlights the extent of the exposure that members of the security forces are faced with each day in the line of duty from criminal elements,” Phillips said. “Every citizen must play his or her role in confronting the scourge to safeguard our livelihood so that future generations can live in peace.”

Forbes warned those who were prepared to kill law enforcement officers “to be prepared to face the consequences that will certainly follow”.

The Police Federation said that Gardner’s life was “snuffed out by elements who… make no valid contribution to our social well-being but instead wreak havoc and create mayhem”.

According to the police, shortly before 3:00 pm yesterday, Gardner, who was not in uniform, was conducting personal business at a cambio in the Westgate Shopping Plaza on the outskirts of Montego Bay.

James and the other man allegedly followed the police officer into the cambio, where one of them greeted the officer. He was then shot in the back of the head. The men took Gardner’s loaded Browning pistol and his wallet before fleeing into nearby bushes.

Gardner was taken to the Cornwall Regional Hospital where he died while undergoing treatment.

At the hospital yesterday afternoon policemen wept openly.

“It rough, it rough,” sobbed Detective Corporal Evelena Johnson who had worked with Gardner for five years. He was on the force for 20 years.

According to Johnson, Gardner was a very jovial and hard working man who got along very well with everyone.

“He will be sadly missed,” Johnson said.

Shortly before 5:00 pm Sharon Gardner, the slain policeman’s wife arrived at the hospital.

When the white sheet was pulled back from her husband’s face Mrs Gardner burst into tears.

“Rupert, Rupert, just because you were doing your job, dem kill you,” she murmured.

She was immediately taken away to a waiting motorcar which sped away from the hospital.