A shocker! Death of ‘promising and committed’ cop jolts community

Constable Spence died on the spot after the motorbike he was riding was involved in an accident between the Gutters to Old Harbour main road in the vicinity of Island Farm.

According to reports Spence’s bike collided with a Toyota Fielder motor car with the driver of the car sustaining serious injuries, however, is current status remains unknown.

The crash reportedly occurred sometime shortly after 1:00 am.

His death ended a short stint as a member of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) after being enlisted approximately two years ago.

Spence’s attempt to join the JCF has been a long one until he was finally accepted, fulfilling a lifelong dream.

Prior to that he tried his hand at music, going by the moniker Continental, but was always described as a good person who had an unblemished record.

Dane Warren, a medical doctor in training, said he and Spence served together as cadets back in the day at Old Harbour High School.

“He was a good youth though,” Warren tells Old Harbour News “never here of him being involved in any wrong doing.”

Born in Church Pen, a couple miles east of Old Harbour, the late officer was admired by those who know him personally.  

Businesswoman and Church Pen native Leleith Hesty says the entire community is in mourning.

“It rock the whole neighbourhood,” she said, while noting how one of Spence’s best friends crashed his motor car instantly upon hearing the sad news. “It shock the community because to know where ‘Andre’ (Spence’s alias) is coming from and to know where he has reached and how he used to behave when he was younger and he managed to make not even a 100 hundred percent turnaround but a 1000 percent turnaround… he’s such a sweet youth.

“I know the police got a great loss and it is a great loss for the community. The community is in mourning, the community is in shock.”

The W&B Enterprise owner added: “He’s just a people person; and because of the type of person he is, a lot of people gravitate to him. It’s a great loss.”

Commander in charge at the St Catherine North Police Division, SSP Howard Chambers, described Constable Spence as a “promising and committed” servant of the constabulary.

SSP Chambers said: “The division of St Catherine North is presently mourning the loss of number 23085 Constable Renardo Spence who was attached to the Spanish Town police traffic unit. He died from injuries received from a motor vehicle collision which occurred along the Gutters main road, Old Harbour, St Catherine early this morning, February 14, 2024.

“We are mourning the loss of a very promising and committed member of the St Catherine North traffic unit. My deepest sympathy goes out to the family members and colleagues of Constable Spence. We share the pain of this gruesome news.

“It’s a difficult time for the division as we are still mourning the death of the late Corporal Owen Kerr who will be buried next Friday, February 23, 2024.

“Team members I call upon you. Let us rally around each other and give the family as much support as possible as we go through this period of bereavement.”

Constable Spence died leaving behind a three-year-old son and both his parents.

The cause of the crash is still being determined by investigators.