Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff John Payntor and Deputy Sheriff William Harville were shot and killed while trying to serve a murder warrant on two men. Sheriff Payntor summoned six men to assist him in making the arrest and proceeded about twelve miles from Stockton, on the Oceola Road, where they arrived at the house. When Sheriff Payntor and the men entered the house they found one of the men in bed. As they approached the man he fired a weapon at Sheriff Payntor, killing him instantly. He then fired at Lieutenant Harville, killing him. A third officer in the room fired at the man but the man was able to escape with others who had been hiding outside of the house. Sheriff Payntor had been sheriff for one year, and had previously served with the 6th Missouri Cavalry Volunteers.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-MO-DAE3A92F- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 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.
Sheriff Payntor gave the Cedar County Sheriff's Office 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Stockton 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
John H. Payntor served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Sheriff John H. Payntor is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.
In MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 63.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Cedar County Sheriff's Department, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John H. Payntor's cause is highlighted.
How John H. Payntor Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John H. Payntor is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John H. Payntor was killed by gun.
Military Service
John H. Payntor served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Visit John H. Payntor’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Cedar County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
