William E. Payne

Virginia Department of Prohibition Enforcement — Richmond, VA

Felonious

End of Watch February 21, 1919

Age 33

The Vigil Panel 36 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 7

Incident

Inspector William Payne was shot and killed at approximately 7:00 pm in the Rosslyn area of Alexandria County (modern-day Arlington County) while attempting to arrest a man for possessing whiskey. He encountered the man in front of the Arlington Trust Company Bank, at the corner of North Moore Street and and modern-day Lee Highway. The man refused to get into the car to go to jail and a struggle ensued. The suspect produced a pistol and shot Inspector Payne in the eye. Another inspector attempted to drive Inspector Payne to Georgetown Hospital but he succumbed to his wound within several minutes of the shooting. The suspect was apprehended the following day. The suspect, age 51, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. At the time of his death, Inspector Payne had the highest number of arrests of any inspector in his agency. On April 1, 1918, he had been shot and wounded during a raid in Mecklenburg County. Inspector Payne was survived by his wife and child and is buried at Columbia Gardens Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. The badge image on this memorial is Inspector Payne's actual badge.

Survivors

Inspector Payne was survived by his wife and child and is buried at Columbia Gardens Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-VA-B24B1995
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.
Inspector Payne served with the Virginia Department of Prohibition Enforcement.
Thank you for your service to the Richmond community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Inspector Payne.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Virginia Department of Prohibition Enforcement

Location Richmond, VA

Platform Identity vdpefed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 21, 1919

Age 33

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .32 caliber

Offender Sentenced to life

Inspector William E. 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 VA, 395 of 654 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Virginia Department of Prohibition Enforcement, 8 of 8 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Virginia Department of Prohibition Enforcement

of 8 officers

100% Felonious

VA — Statewide

395

of 654 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious