Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer David Payne was killed when his police motorcycle was struck by a drunk driver at the intersection of Chandler Boulevard and Pennington Drive.
He was stopped at a red light at 12:40 am when the drunk driver rear-ended his motorcycle and then fled the scene. The collision occurred at the same intersection at which Officer Robert Nielsen was killed in the line of duty on June 12th, 2002.
The driver was arrested a short time later and was charged with second-degree murder, aggravated DUI, and six other counts. On December 4, 2015, the driver was sentenced to 14 years in prison plus seven years probation.
Officer Payne was a member of the Arizona National Guard and had served with the Chandler Police Department for seven years.
Survivors
He is survived by his child.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AZ-D46325BB- 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.
Police Officer Payne gave the Chandler Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chandler community. Thank you 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
David Smith Payne served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Police Officer David Smith 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 AZ, 204 of 330 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 7.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Chandler Police Dept., 4 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. David Smith Payne's cause is highlighted.
How David Smith Payne Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 14 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. David Smith Payne is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. David Smith Payne was killed by automobile; alcohol involved.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from Chandler Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
