Dermott Police Department, Arkansas
End of Watch: Monday, August 29, 1977
Age: 51
Tour of Duty: 8 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: August 29, 1977
Weapon Used: Officer's handgun
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Chief of Police Bill Payne was shot and killed with his own pistol while attempting to arrest a man for creating a disturbance.
The suspect fled from the scene in Chief Payne's police car. Minutes later he was arrested after officers shot out his tires when he ran through a police road block on U.S. 65.
On April 27, 1978, the suspect, 26, was found guilty of capital murder and sentenced to life without parole. As of December 14, 2022, he was in prison.
Chief Payne served with the U.S. military police for 20 years.