Portmore taxi operators withdrew their services on Tuesday morning following the shooting of a colleague by the police.
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SSP Christopher Phillips, Commanding Officer for the St. Catherine South Police Division
Taxi operators in Portmore, St. Catherine withdrew their services on Tuesday morning following the shooting of a colleague by the police.
About 10 o'clock, a police team was attempting to arrest the taxi operator when he was shot in the shoulder.
The incident happened on Dawkins Drive, a major thoroughfare used by motorists to exit the municipality.
Angry taxi operators mounted roadblocks along the thoroughfare in response to the incident.
The roadblock, which disrupted the flow of traffic to Kingston, was subsequently cleared.
Senior Superintendent Christopher Phillips, head of the St. Catherine South Police, told Radio Jamaica News that the taxi operator was being sought for questioning in relation to an incident last week in which a policeman was hit from his motorbike by a vehicle.
He said the vehicle which allegedly hit the officer was intercepted on Tuesday morning and "a tussle ensued between the driver and the police officer".
During the tussle, the taxi operator was shot.
He was taken to hospital for treatment.
The policeman involved was also wounded.
SSP Phillips told Radio Jamaica News that a police team is "on the ground doing the necessary investigation to unearth all the finer details" of the incident.
He added that the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) has been informed.
While the taxi operators protested the shooting of their colleague on Tuesday, they also contended that they were being unfairly targeted by police.
SSP Phillips admitted that the taxi operators have expressed concerns about several issues, including about security as well as the facilities designated for them to park.
He said the police will be providing an avenue for them to air their grouses on these and other matters.
The senior cop noted that while the shooting and subsequent protest was unfortunate, it will provide an "opportunity to build out a stronger relationship" with the taxi operators.
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