Unknown Jamaican gunmen killed a law enforcement officer on Monday in the capital Kingston, police confirmed on Tuesday.

Police investigators said a three-member team from Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) was ambushed on Monday afternoon. James Grant, a policeman with 13 years of serving experience, was shot several times in the head and died at hospital later.

Carl Williams, the new police commissioner, expressed his regret at the death of the crime fighter and pledged that the incident would not deter their commitment to winning "the battle against violent crime."

"The murder of Grant is a despicable act of cowardice that has plunged the constabulary in mourning yet again. It underscores criminals tend to target members of the constabulary force as they seek to maintain peace and ensure public safety in communities," the police chief said.

Grant is the first JCF officer killed this year. The JCF reported some 700 cases of attacks on police in 2013, and nine police officers were killed in the line of duty.

Critics say attacks on the JCF are largely reprisals against extra-judicial killings by heavy-handed police forces.

Jamaica, an island nation with a population of just under 3 million, witnessed 258 cases of extra-judicial killings by the JCF in 2013 and 219 cases in 2012. Even though police killings are on the decline this year, still 88 persons have been killed by police up to date.