In a statement condemning the cold-blooded execution of Lance Corporal 16987 Adrian London on a Georgetown street late Thursday night, he said this "must be seen as a calculated attempt by those who have their own agenda, to create fear and tension, to demoralise lawmen and weaken their values and collective will to combat the evils which have beset our society."

But Mr. McDonald vowed: "The Force would never surrender grounds to lawlessness, disorder and criminal activities."

The Police Force "remains resolute and fully committed to ensuring the integrity of law and order", he said.

"Make no mistake, the perpetrators as well as those who harbour and encourage them would not escape the long arm of the law. No effort would be spared to bring these dastardly perpetrators to justice", he declared.

London, 31, a father of one, died in a hail of bullets on Joseph Pollydore Street, Lodge.

The detective of 297 Tuckeit Street, South Ruimveldt Gardens, was attached to the Anti-Crime Squad and stationed at Brickdam Police Station.

He was attacked and killed while on his way home at around 23:00 hrs, Police said.

His body, riddled with bullets, was found lying next to his motorcycle CD 5217 - face up, with one foot yet on the back stand, a relative said.

The killers were three men lurking outside a pub, reports said.

The death of the cop rudely snapped the cord to a nuptial knot tied less than seven months ago - on New Year's Day - with his bride Nauja with whom relatives said he had spoken on the telephone just before leaving home on Thursday.

The horrifying news was broken to the widow by relatives shortly after the killing. They said Nauja last saw her husband when she returned home from Trinidad in April to spend some time with him.

The slain cop's cousin, Clarence Charles yesterday relived the horror of seeing his lifeless body on the road.

Clarence said he arrived on the scene about ten minutes after Adrian was shot.

Still badly traumatised as he spoke, he said that what confronted him on the road in front of the `Guinness Bar' in Lodge was not something he was at all prepared for.

"It was about ten past eleven, and I was in the vicinity of the (National) Cultural Centre, just going home when I noticed a police vehicle and a police outrider motor bike pass with a speed, and the hazard lights were on."

He said he became curious and wondered what was taking place.

"On getting closer I saw a big crowd of people at the head of Lodge and heard somebody say that a policeman named Adrian just got shot and was lying next to his motor bike."

Clarence said that he became frantic at that stage, for he immediately suspected that it was his cousin.

He said he tried to make his way through the crowd, but the police tried to stop him, as they were trying to keep the crowd at bay.

However, a cop who knew him indicated to the others that he was the slain detective's cousin, and so they escorted him to where Adrian's body was lying.

He said it was clear that when Adrian died he was experiencing excruciating pains, as his right fist was still clenched, his mouth open, and one of his eyes appeared to have been blown out.

He recalled seeing about two bullet wounds in his neck, one on the crown of his head, one in his chest.

"One foot was still on the back stand of his motorcycle and he was lying on his back. That's about all I remember and I couldn't take it any more."

"It was a terrible shooting death. It was the first time in my life I ever saw such a thing," he recalled in anguish.

Clarence said some friends took him home in a car to inform the other relatives. But when he reached Adrian's home in South Ruimveldt Gardens he was so disoriented he could not even find the right yard immediately.

A younger sister, Hollis London, said she often tried to encourage her brother to leave the Force as it was increasingly becoming a dangerous job.

She said that just recently he was threatened and she became really worried.

"But he really loved his job, and dedicated his life to the Police Force," she said.

London joined the Force in October 1996, and by 1999 had received two awards: "Best Cop `A' Division" and "Best Cop" for the entire Guyana Police Force.

During the six years he spent in the Force he was stationed at Eve Leary, Kitty, Alberttown, Ruimveldt and finally Brickdam Police Stations.

Hollis said her brother left home at around 07:30 hrs Thursday, saying that he had to go to court as part of his duties that day.

She said she expected him back home by 20:30 hrs or so, but because of the nature of policing, was not too troubled when he did not return at that hour.

But never did she expect to get the kind of news she eventually got.

Meanwhile, his son Adrian (Junior) who lives on the West Demerara, says that all he wants is to see his daddy back.

The six-year-old last saw his father about four months ago, and was looking forward to spending some time with him during the August holidays, as he would normally do.

Asked what job he would like to do when he's grown, he replied, "I want to be a police."

Asked why, he replied, "Because my daddy is a police."

Lance Corporal London leaves to mourn his father Harry London, wife Nauja, son Adrian (Junior), four sisters and brothers and other relatives.

Commissioner McDonald expressed condolences to the family members.

London was the sixth policeman slain since April 2 when Superintendent Leon Fraser was shot dead as he and others were on the hunt for armed and dangerous bandits at Yarowkabra, Soesdyke-Linden Highway.