[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 42 (Wednesday, March 9, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E241]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING CHIEF WAYNE PAYNE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. STEVEN M. PALAZZO

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 9, 2022

  Mr. PALAZZO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Chief Wayne H. 
Payne's accomplished career and outstanding service to law enforcement 
in the State of Mississippi.
  Chief Wayne Payne is a native and lifelong resident of the 
Mississippi Gulf Coast. He graduated from Gulfport High School and 
earned his Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from the University 
of Southern Mississippi in 1991. Chief Payne and his wife, Paula, have 
been married since 1974 and have two sons, Wayne and Joey, both law 
enforcement officers. They also are blessed with three grandchildren, 
Kaitlyn, Kimberly and, Haily.
  Chief Payne is an accomplished public servant and Law Enforcement 
Executive with nearly 50 years of public service. In 1976, Chief Payne 
transitioned from his position as a firefighter for the Gulfport Fire 
Department to the Gulfport Police Department, where he started as a 
patrol officer and quickly rose through the ranks. Notably, Chief Payne 
has served as the Chief of Police for the City of Long Beach, the Major 
of Operations for the Gulfport Police Department, and the Chief of 
Police for the City of Gulfport.
  Chief Payne served a total of 30 years with the City of Gulf-port 
before retiring in 2004. After his initial retirement, Chief Payne 
decided to continue his public service as the Major of Operations for 
the Harrison County Sheriff's Department.
  In 2007, Chief Payne was selected as the first Chief of Police for 
the City of D'Iberville Police Department. As D'Iberville' s first 
Chief of Police, Chief Payne has utilized his years of professional 
expertise and experience to build out his department and guide the next 
generation of police officers who serve and protect the State of 
Mississippi.
  The City of D'Iberville's Police Department motto is ``Serving our 
citizens with Dignity, Honor, and Integrity'' and there is no doubt 
that Chief Payne has exemplified this saying throughout his many years 
of dedicated service.
  Chief Payne is among many brave Mississippians who understood the 
risks of the profession, and still chose to serve our communities as 
law enforcement officers. The sacrifices that Chief Payne and his 
family have made over the years have not gone unnoticed. On behalf of 
Mississippi's fourth congressional district, as his Congressman I thank 
him and his family for their immense sacrifice and his service.

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