Police Officer David Payne

Chandler Police Department, Arizona – Police Officer David Payne was killed when his police motorcycle was struck by a drunk driver at the intersection of Chandler Boulevard and Pennington Drive.

He was stopped at a red light at 12:40 am when the drunk driver rear-ended his motorcycle and then fled the scene. The driver was arrested a short time later and charged with manslaughter, hit-and-run, and child endangerment.

The collision occurred at the same intersection at which Officer Robert Nielsen was killed in the line of duty on June 12th, 2002.

Officer Payne was a member of the Arizona National Guard and had served with the Chandler Police Department for seven years. He is survived by his child.