DONTAE SHERRON PAYNE (39) 
Detective, Allegheny County Police Department

Dontae Payne feels like he’s riding on the coattails of his mother, the late City Councilwoman Tonya Payne.

“I hope to continue carrying and uplifting the Payne last name,” he says. “I hope someday they don’t just think ‘Tonya’ — they can also associate me with that and the things I’ve accomplished.”

Payne is a detective in internal affairs at Allegheny County Jail and a major serving his 18th year in the Army Reserves. An active participant in the Special Olympics, Payne also recently became a full-time volunteer with the Brashear High School boys’ varsity track team and trains the girls’ relay team as well.

“I think our Black male youth need positive Black male role models,” he says. “I try my best to carry myself at a higher standard to provide that to the community as much as possible.”