Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

#MetooamDONNAPAYANT!! I’m currently a NYS CO and now with a post out of prison, I remind myself each day that I was almost this woman.. An I/I ask for cleaning supplies one day and as I entered a room he was behind me punching me in the face , ripping my shirt open , removing my pas and camera while kneeing me in between my legs while on top of me.. my dorm heard me screaming g and came to my aide. This individual had an infectious disease which I had to take a cocktail for two months to prevent an infection… when I work a post that has her name I stop and HONOR her.. we I speak to senators about halt or at women conferences I say her name PROUDLY!! She died for the state of NY!!SHE DIED FOR ME!!RIP CO PAYANT

CO Hayes
NYSDOC

June 1, 2023

Y0UR NAME IS SACRED & REVERED IN HEAVEN 0N THE ANNIVERSARY 0F Y0UR MURDER AS A NYSD0C C0RRECTI0N 0FFICER,, REST EASY

Joe Hallen
F0RMER NYSD0CS C0

May 15, 2022

" Vengeance is mine," sayeth the Lord. Very soon we will all be called to account for the sins we have committed, and He will shine a light on them for all to see. I watched the episode of For. Files too, and Donna sounds like the kind of person who does what is right, not what is easy. She did not deserve what happened to her. I don't believe for one second that she, upon receiving a phone call, marched right away to berate an inmate. With no thought of her own personal safety and because she was so naive that she never expected any of the completely male prison would become infatuated, she stormed in on a very large serial killer who was enamored of her and when she rejected him he lost his mind! Incredulous!
Try to bite your spouse's chest, way up high where it's flat. Now remember your bottom teeth need to leave a mark, but you can't make one with your top teeth. Good luck!

Emily
ARMY VET

May 4, 2022

My mother and stepfather worked at the prison when this tragedy happened. Years later my mom, being into her cups, said some strange things about who was involved. Both of them have since passed, but after watching the Forensic Files episode, it seems that she might not have been that far into her cups. You must have been a really brave woman, and I am truly sorry that this happened.

David F Moran

December 26, 2021

On this actual anniversary of your untimely and heroic death I’d like to reiterate my previous reflection and say that your sacrifice will never, ever be forgotten by your law enforcement family. Rest in peace always.

Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo
Delaware State Police (Retired)

May 15, 2021

Officer Payant, thank you for your service and please know that your sacrifice will always be remembered. Your courage and heroism has certainly left a legacy for many amazing women who have followed you in LE and specifically within New York Corrections. Rest in peace always

Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo
Delaware State Police (Retired)

July 9, 2020

NYSDOC CORRECTION OFFICER DONNA PAYANT. EOW MAY 15 1981. YOUR NAME, COURAGE AND MEMORY IS STILL HONORED, SACRED AND REVERED. I ALSO WAS A NYSDOC CO. YOU ARE RESTING IN GOD*S PARADISE FOREVERMORE.

FORMER NYSDOC CO JOE

May 15, 2020

Hello. I watched an episode of Forensic Files about Officer Payant's murder. Officer Payant is a hero. I am sorry for her loss.

Michelle Reinstatler, USAF veteran
None

April 8, 2020

Rest in peace Corrections Officer Payant. Young, beautiful and bold.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

May 15, 2019

Rest In Peace Sister LEO. Thank you and your family for your sacrifice and service. Never forgotten.

Officer Mike Robinson (Ret.)
Upland Police Dept. CA

May 15, 2019

You'll be remembered not just this day but every day. Rest in peace sister.

Clinton CO
NYSDOCCS

May 15, 2019

Thank you for your service. Rest in Peace CO Donna Payant today Police Memorial Day, You were murdered behind the walls @ Green Haven in Stormville NY. Your name is revered and sacred as is your memory. You were as pure as the wind driven snow. I too was a NYS CO. 41 years ago.

NYSCO JOE

May 15, 2018

Thank you for your service. Rest in Peace CO Donna Payant today Police Memorial Day, You were murdered behind the walls @ Green Haven in Stormville NY. Your name is revered and sacred as is your memory. You were as pure as the wind driven snow. I too was a NYS CO. 41 years ago.

NYSCO JOEY

May 15, 2018

Rest easy my sister. Thank you for your service and sacrifice. May this dirt bag suffer when he enters the gates of hell.

Lieutenant Raymond Flores
NYPD (retired)

May 15, 2018

Thank you for your service. Rest In Peace. Never forgottn

Corporal Lily Southwick
Lehi

March 28, 2018

As I walked in the line up room for the first time of my career Oct 2007 I saw your picture on the wall. I felt different emotions but the one I remember most is that I was going to take my career seriously with the utmost respect and dignity! Rest easy my sister in blue!

CO Correa
Nys Docs Greenhaven

May 24, 2017

Rest in peace sister.

Correctional Officer 2
Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services Canada (Provinc

May 17, 2016

My very first line up after graduating from the academy was May 15, 1981 @ Fishkill. A sad and very somber day. RIP CO Payant, you will always be remembered.

CO
NYSDOCS

May 16, 2016

This Governor wants to run for President in 2020 Hence he cuddles inmates in a disgusting way and closes prisons claiming crime is down,its really unsafe around prisons in NY because of him.
Your death was a direct result of the same measures that we see today.
I thank god I was able to spend 25 years in service and retire in 2011,you were a hero i grew to know,RIP dear sister

C.O. {RETIRED
DOCS

May 16, 2016

LAST NIGHT AT THE NLEOMF, MAY 13 I LIT A CANDLE IN MEMORY OF YOU, NYSDOCS CORRECTION OFFICER MRS. DONNA A. PAYANT. I ALSO. WAS EMPLOYED BY NYSDOCS AS A CORRECTION OFFICER ATEASTERN NY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY 39 YEARS AGO. YOU WERE A NY HERO. I WILL ALWAYS LOVE AND REMEMBER YOU.THE CORRECTION OFFICER FAREWELL. THAT A FEMALE SERGEANTFROM MARYLAND SAID IN A REFLECTION TO YOU WAS RIGHT WHEN SHE SAID YOU DID THE JOB THAT FEW CAN DO. RIP DEAR MRS DONNA A. PAYANT. NYSDOCS CORRECTION OFFICER. YOUR NAME WILL ALWAYS BE REVERED. RIP CO

FORMER NYSDOCS CORRECTION OFFICER JOE
NYSDOCS CORRECTION OFFICER AT NAPANOCH

May 14, 2016

Donna, you didn't know me very well; as I was going out, you were just stepping out of the academy. I always revered women like yourself that showed no fear or inability when it came to working in a men's prison. They were required to do the same thing, if not more then there male counter parts. The problem is in the post Attica decade, the governor( Rockafella), screwed up by under estimating the seriousness of his prisons inaffectual way of being run. For a while the uniform of the.day was a blue blazer, you heard me right, a blue blazer, with.coordinated gray slacks., blue shirt and tie. We actually had to dress up for these clowns. This bought down the seriousness of the prison system. I mean if I were an inmate, serving 2 life sentences and an officer, supposedly a figurehead of authority, told me to do something, looking like Boo-Boo the fool, I would be less inclined to comply with his demands. My son.is a Correction Officer, with the city of New York and he told me that the new commisioner, did away of all segregation units on Rikers Island. Now what does that multi-life convicted inmate down for his third sentencing have to deter him from just walking up to the nearest officer and stabbing him in his throat? I ask you...Nothing. New York's prison system is failing us, the public, it's own officers, and the nation as a whole. The bad guys must be contained, and the people that.contain them should have more support then they have ever been given. I salute you my fallen commrade, and may you rest in paradise, forever. C. O. Cornealius S. Price...his own office with the chaptain....please!!!

C.O. Cornealius S. Price
officer at Greenhaven State Prison

December 21, 2015

your story of brutality hopefully will not be vain and teach other women to be mindful of those in either gender who seek to hurt women for no reason.

prayer for family and loved ones.

jeroice

November 24, 2015

R.I.P. Donna, you seemed like a beautiful strong woman. I know you are looking out for all those in criminal justice fields.

Audrey Williams
Forensic student

September 29, 2015

Donna,
May you rest in peace not day goes by I don't think of you because of you I am going college for Criminal Justice in you memory I want be Correctional Officer like you. Miss you always
Love your cousin

Lee
Cousin

August 3, 2015

Time may have passed but you are not forgotten. I believe as long as someone remembers you or speaks your name, you are still with us.
Thank you for your heroism.
God Bless

Detention Officer A.Zambito
Texas

May 15, 2015