In the late summer of 1977, a dedicated public servant's life was tragically cut short in the line of duty. Hubert Bill Payne, the 51-year-old male Chief of Police for the Dermott Police Department in Arkansas, was a man who had committed his life to upholding the law, having served for twenty years with the U.S. military police before his eight-year tenure with the local police force.
His End of Watch came on Monday, August 29, 1977, during what began as a routine call.
On that fateful day, Chief Payne responded to a report of a man creating a disturbance. During the attempt to make an arrest, a struggle ensued, and the suspect managed to gain control of Chief Payne's own service pistol. The assailant then fatally shot the chief with his own weapon, a devastating turn of events that sent shockwaves through the small community. The loss of Chief Payne was a profound blow to the town he had sworn to protect.
The suspect, a 26-year-old man, did not remain at large for long. Immediately following the shooting, he fled the scene in Chief Payne's police car, prompting a swift and intensive manhunt. Law enforcement officers quickly set up a roadblock on U.S. 65. The fleeing suspect, in a desperate attempt to escape, ran through the roadblock. Officers opened fire on the vehicle, successfully shooting out the tires and bringing the chase to an end. The man was then taken into custody.
Justice for the slain police chief was pursued through the legal system. On April 27, 1978, the man responsible for Chief Payne's death was found guilty of capital murder. The court handed down a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole, ensuring that he would be held accountable for his actions. As of late 2022, the convicted individual remained incarcerated.
