The David Payne Funeral
Colleagues pay tribute to David Payne
Patrolmans death is called "a blasphemy"

Lewiston Daily Sun - Thursday, July 28, 1988
Reprinted with permission of the Lewiston Sun-Journal

By Jennifer Sullivan
Sun staff writer

LEWISTON -- The brotherhood that drew David Payne to police work stood 900 strong Wednesday as officers from Indiana to Canada joined 800 other mourners in paying final tribute to the slain patrolman.

More than 1,700 people listened to a bagpiper's strains of "Amazing Grace" as Lewiston police officers and their families filed into the Central Maine Youth Center to mourn Payne's death. The 26-year-old father of two, who was so inspired by the fierce loyalty of police that he chose to join them, was gunned down Saturday while investigating a purported car accident.

He was the second police officer in Lewiston's history to die in the line of duty.

Police Chief Gregory Hanscom remembered Payne as "a growing and enthusiastic member of the police profession. He knew the challenge, the opportunity and the danger." "He knew, as do we all, of the possible consequences of a confrontation with one of the truly vicious people in society," said Hanscom, whose voice trembled only once as he stood before the flag-draped coffin. "David's death is a tragedy, a blasphemy, an unfair, unkind, shocking occurrence."

"I will always remember David as a handsome man with a solid build and a strong handshake. I remember his bright intellect and boundless energy. I remember him as the father of two beautiful children and a husband with a loving wife," he said. "I will remember him as a police officer."

Payne's wife, the former Karen Bailey, was escorted to the funeral by Jeffrey and Michael Parshall, fellow officers and close friends of the slain patrolman. She remained composed throughout the 60-minute ceremony, as did Payne's parents and four sisters. The couple's children, Erika Lynn, 5, and Evan; 2, were not present.

The Rev. Rick Nesbitt, pastor at the Victory Baptist Church in Winthrop, where Payne taught Sunday school and coached basketball, conducted the rest of the ceremony. As all 1,700 mourners bowed their heads in prayer, the only sound was rain falling hard against the roof.

"David Payne's in heaven. He can't come back to us," Nesbitt said. "But he wants us to come with him someday, when we have the time.''

Lewiston's 11-member police honor guard ushered Payne's casket outside the auditorium. A motorcade of at least 250 cars, including 207 police cruisers, drove to Gracelawn Memorial Park in Auburn for the burial. Motorcycle officers from the Boston Metropolitan Police Department, as well as the Blue Knights, flanked the hearse. The group paused briefly at the Lewiston-Fire Department, where firefighters in full uniform saluted silently.

At Gracelawn, two mounted officers from the Portland Police Department stood watch near the grave. Payne's widow and family members were escorted to the site by Lewiston officers for a brief service as light rain fell. About 900 police officers and 200 other mourners, including city workers and ambulance crews wearing black armbands, looked on.

As a lone bugler played taps, the grim-faced honor guard lifted the American flag from Payne's casket and folded the banner, then handed it to Hanscom, who presented it to Mrs. Payne.

While some officers struggled to hold back tears, and others held straight faces, a bagpipe player 200 yards away played a final salute to the fallen officer.

Among those paying their final respects were Gov. John R. McKernan and Mayor Maurice L. Labbe, along with city councilors and a host of state and local officials. Two hundred city employees and their families attended as well.

Lawmen from New England, New York, New Jersey, Indiana, Louisiana and Canada, the Secret Service, the US Border Patrol and the US Immigration and Naturalization Services attended the ceremony. The group, many of whom arrived Tuesday, quickly filled 600 seats reserved for them at the arena. At least 300 more stood during much of the ceremony.

"We came because he was a brother officer," said Patrolman Laura Crawforth of the Portland Police Department. "I think this has shaken every department throughout the state and New England. It always does. It's a reminder of what can happen."

Sgt. Gus March of the New Brunswick Highway Patrol, who drove five hours to attend the ceremony, said Payne was "just like one of our own."

"One of the officers in our unit was killed last year. It was painful," he said. "I used to feel bitter. (Lewiston police) will feel really bitter for a while, I assume. But they'll go on with their jobs. They know they have a job to do."

Pauline Giguere of Lewiston attended because, she said, "I'm a former policeman's wife. You know this feeling (of brotherhood), and you live with it. It doesn't change, no matter who it is or what happens to him."

A crisis intervention team has been brought in to counsel Lewiston police officers, and some patrolmen say the effort has helped them continue to do their jobs in the face of tragedy. But many must also cope with worried family members.

"I didn't used to think I had to worry," said Connie Chicoine, wife of Senior Patrolman Craig Chicoine "This is Lewiston, you know?" Chicoine said he planned to take his 15 year-old daughter to a family counseling session later on. "She's been worried," he said "This has been real hard on her".

Lewiston police officers said little before and after the ceremony. Many said it was too difficult for them talk about what had happened.

But Patrolman James W. Perkins summed up what many tried to express about David Payne.

"He was the best," Perkins said as several officers nodded. "He really was."

(Staff writer Dave Boardman contributed to this article.)

David Payne Gravesite
Located in Gracelawn Memorial Park, Auburn, Maine