JASON Thomas, the municipal police officer who was gunned down by men who tried to steal his car last week, was trying to earn extra money by plying his car for hire when he was killed. And he was forced to work a second job because of the poor salaries paid to police officers, Pastor Rolston Bodkin said yesterday.

Bodkin was delivering the homily at the funeral service for the slain cop at the Apostle Ministries, Amarsingh Street, Longdenville, Chaguanas.

"If we can bring a Canadian here and pay them $100,000-plus, why is it that a municipal police officer is paid $4,000 and $5,000? If Jason was properly paid he may not be working a second job to make extra money. A municipal police is just as an ordinary police, he locked up people just as an ordinary police," he said.

Bodkin added that he would stand by his statement to hang the killers. "I am not supporting Jack (Warner). I am saying if the law is hanging, then hang them. I am not a supporter of the People's Partnership, I am not a supporter of the PNM. I am a supporter of God," he said.

Thomas, 37, was described by the pastor as an ambitious man, who wanted to succeed in life. "And I wished these young men (who killed Thomas) were as ambitious as him, to work for what they want. I am sorry for the men who took Jason's life. I am sorry for their parents because now they would have to face people who would now look at them and say it is your child, not mine," he said.

Thomas, who lived at Cashew Gardens, Longdenville, was attached to the Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporation. Dave Persad, chief executive officer, and councillors from the corporations were present.

Inspector Selwyn Joseph said his colleague worked as a taxi-driver after work. "After work he would say it is time to help out some people who are stranded on the roadways and in turn they would help him out. And Jason was helping out someone when they took him away from us," he said.

Joseph praised the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment officers for pursuing the suspects and arresting them after the shooting.

Thomas's cousin, Lex Hinds, said he was a man who worked hard to provide for his family. And he was a pillar to his mother, Grace Thomas, and his nine siblings.

Thomas's wife, Sharon and his children Lariena and Kirk, cried quietly during the military service.

He was later buried at the Longdenville Public Cemetery.

Thomas was plying his taxi, a Nissan Almera, for hire when he was attacked by the men posing as passengers.

Police believe Thomas resisted and was shot several times. Thomas, police said, was running from the vehicle when he was shot and collapsed in front a nearby Securicor vehicle which was waiting for the traffic lights at the Valsayn intersection to change.

The carjackers, who jumped out his vehicle and tried to escape on foot, were chased by a group of soldiers who were in a vehicle behind Thomas's. They were caught near Nestle.