DETECTIVES from the Major Investigation Task force were up to late yesterday searching for a motive behind Thursday night's killing of a police corporal Warren Campbell in Patrick City, Kingston.

Meanwhile, a number of persons, including Security Minister Peter Bunting, yesterday condemned Campbell's murder, while his family and colleagues at the Organised Crime Investigation Division (OCID) mourned the loss. The security minister said no effort would be spared in bringing the policeman's killer(s) to justice.

The 26-year-old Campbell was walking with a woman along Patrick Drive, a short distance from his rented home along Conway Drive, around 9 o'clock when a car pulled up and men aboard shot at him multiple times.

The woman was unharmed.

A Patrick City resident told the Jamaica Observer Thursday night that he heard about 10 shots.

Teary-eyed colleagues of the slain detective — who has been in the force for just six years — were being offered counselling.

"He was a very hard- working, honest and dedicated policeman," a grieving OCID boss Senior Superintendent Fitz Bailey told the Observer. "He was a policeman who operated with integrity."

"He was my friend," said a policeman from another division. "I just came here to give my support," he said.

The Independent Commission of Investigations, which has also condemned the murder of the policeman, yesterday urged witnesses to assist the police in the investigations.