Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer

PORTMORE, St Catherine:

"We cannot have our men and women being killed by gunmen and something meaningful is not being done about it," declared Bishop Wellesley Blair on Saturday as he delivered the message at the funeral for Special Constable Dowan Peart.

"Those who use the gun must prepare to face the judgement," added Blair as he charged that there needs to be more than a cosmetic response to these illegal acts.

Blair was addressing mourners, including Commissioner of Police Owen Ellington, Justice Marva McDonald-Bishop and Supreme Court judge Bryan Sykes, at the the New Testament Church of God in Bayside, Portmore, St Catherine.

The mourners remembered the slain special constable as well-mannered, honest and a devout Christian

Mourners were reminded that the special constable, who was killed on his way from church, had been baptised at age 10.

"I remember when he came to be recruited. He carried a white attaché case. Such was the pride he took in his job," said Assistant Commandant Elaine Roache.

Peart was murdered on January 29 in Grange Lane, also in Portmore.