Roll of Honor

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Chief of Police

Hubert "Bill" Payne

Dermott Police Department — Dermott, AR

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch August 29, 1977

Age 51

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

The Vigil Panel 119 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Chief of Police Bill Payne was shot and killed with his own pistol while attempting to arrest a man for creating a disturbance. The suspect fled from the scene in Chief Payne's police car. Minutes later he was arrested after officers shot out his tires when he ran through a police road block on U.S. 65. On April 27, 1978, the suspect, 26, was found guilty of capital murder and sentenced to life without parole. As of December 14, 2022, he was in prison. Chief Payne served with the U.S. military police for 20 years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AR-B7BABBE7
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Chief of Police Payne gave the Dermott Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Dermott community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Dermott Police Department

Location Dermott, AR

Platform Identity dpd.chicot.ar.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 29, 1977

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

Age 51

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Sentenced to life

Military Service

Hubert "Bill" Payne served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Chief of Police Hubert "Bill" 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 AR, 249 of 372 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.9% of this state's fallen. That is 12.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Dermott Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

AR — Statewide

249

of 372 officers

66.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Hubert "Bill" Payne's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Hubert "Bill" Payne Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to life

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Hubert "Bill" Payne is highlighted in Aug.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Hubert "Bill" Payne was killed by officer's handgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518