Police from St Andrew North are upset and disappointed about recent media reports that they had watched gunmen trade bullets.

Deputy Superintendent Altamont Campbell said he had not been quoted accurately.

"The role of a police officer is to protect life and property," he said.

According to Campbell, the incident occurred after the police received a call indicating that there had been a shooting in the 100/Park lane area. The police went to the scene and saw several men shooting at each other; however, some of the men wore police vests.

proceeded cautiously

Campbell said the police were unable to properly see the faces of the men; in the vests due to the lack of street lights. "It was too dark to fire shots in the lane without knowing who we were shooting at since it could result in the injury or death of an innocent person," said Campbell. "Therefore, we proceeded into the area cautiously before firing."

He said they eventually realised that the men in the vests were not policemen as one had an AK47. Upon realising this, the police pursued the men; however, they ran away in various directions.

Superintendent Anthony Castell said that it was understandable that the officers believed that the men in the vests had been policemen.

"The Red Hills Road area is basically pitch black and needs some light," he said. He added that before the shooting, a police team had been sent to patrol the area.