Clifford Phillip Payne

Washita County Sheriff's Office — Cordell, OK

Felonious

End of Watch June 18, 1977

The Vigil Panel 118 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 8

Incident

Deputy Payne and an undercover narcotics agent were shot by the stepfather of a 17-year-old male they were attempting to arrest on a marijuana charge at his home about 1:30 a.m. The stepfather fired five rounds from a snub-nosed .38-caliber pistol, fatally wounding Deputy Payne and striking the narcotics agent in the chin and left hand. The stepfather was wounded in the side by the narcotics agent who fired from the doorway of the residence as he was seeking cover. The 17-year-old fled out the back door when the shooting began. He surrendered to authorities about 9:30 a.m. after a massive eight-hour search of the Burns Flat industrial district. The stepfather was arrested and charged with murdering Deputy Payne. He testified that he thought Deputy Payne was an armed intruder in his home that night and cited the fact that the deputy had a beard and long hair. The prosecution countered that Deputy Payne was dressed in uniform. The suspect was acquitted by a jury.

Survivors

Deputy Payne was survived by his wife and three sons.

In Our Keeping

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Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Payne served with the Washita County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Cordell community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Payne.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Washita County Sheriff's Office

Location Cordell, OK

Platform Identity wcso.washita.ok.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 18, 1977

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .38 caliber

Offender Acquitted

Deputy Sheriff Clifford Phillip Payne is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In OK, 403 of 582 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.2% of this state's fallen. That is 15 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Washita County Sheriff's Office, 5 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55.6% of this agency's fallen.

Washita County Sheriff's Office

of 9 officers

55.6% Felonious

OK — Statewide

403

of 582 officers

69.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious