Ray Payne

Birmingham Police Dept. — Birmingham, AL

Felonious

End of Watch February 12, 1927

Age 27

The Vigil Panel 52 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 48

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: 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.
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

Department Birmingham Police Dept.

Location Birmingham, AL

Platform Identity birmpd.jefferson.al.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 12, 1927

Age 27

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Death sentence commuted to life

Police Officer Ray 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 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 8.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Birmingham Police Dept., 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.

Birmingham Police Dept.

of 49 officers

69.4% Felonious

AL — Statewide

405

of 643 officers

63% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious