William Morgan Payton

West Palm Beach Police Department — West Palm Beach, FL

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch February 9, 1924

Age 34

Tour of Duty 1 yrs 4 mo

The Vigil Panel 46 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 12

Incident

Patrolman William Payton was shot and killed with his own gun by a man while investigating a domestic disturbance at a residence near the intersection of 3rd Street and Division Street. As he entered the home the man attacked and disarmed him. The man then shot him in the head. Several bystanders took Officer Payton to Good Samaritan Hospital where he died. The man who shot him fled but was arrestd by a posse. He was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death. The Florida Supreme Court granted him a new trial resulting in a conviction of manslaughter with a 15 year sentence. He was given a conditional pardon on July 3, 1933. Officer Payton was a U.S. Army veteran of WWI and had served with the West Palm Beach Police Department for 14 months.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-FL-8F1EF125
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.
Patrolman Payton gave the West Palm Beach Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the West Palm Beach 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 West Palm Beach Police Department

Location West Palm Beach, FL

Platform Identity wpbpd.palmbeach.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 9, 1924

Tour of Duty 1 yrs 4 mo

Age 34

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Pardoned in 1933

Military Service

William Morgan Payton served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Patrolman William Morgan Payton 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 FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 0.7 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At West Palm Beach Police Department, 5 of 13 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 38.5% of this agency's fallen.

West Palm Beach Police Department

of 13 officers

38.5% Felonious

FL — Statewide

539

of 1,008 officers

53.5% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious