Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Payne was shot and killed while trying to break up a fight between three men. One of them produced a gun and shot him. Two suspects were convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death. Both were granted new trials and sentenced to life in 1929. One was paroled on August 2, 1941.
Survivors
Officer Payne was survived by his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-759CB45F- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Payne served with the Birmingham Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Birmingham community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Payne.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Ray Payne 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 97,772 officers honored here.
In AL, 405 of 643 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63% of this state's fallen. That is 63 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Birmingham Police Department, 34 of 49 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ray Payne's cause is highlighted.
How Ray Payne Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ray Payne is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ray Payne was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
48 officers from Birmingham Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
