Team Cop Retires With Mavs On Top

DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Lt. Barry Payne of the Dallas Police Department knows all too well that the last goodbye is the longest.  "It's kind of bittersweet," Lt. Payne said. "I've been ready to retire, but this season went longer than I really thought it would go."

The 60-year-old police officer addressed his fellow officers Thursday night before his final Mavericks' game. "We've had to deal with more things during these finals than just about the whole season and you guys did a tremendous job,"  he told his unit of 25 officers.

For the past 27 years, Lt. Payne has watched over Mavericks games and Mavericks fans.  Payne joined the Dallas Police Department in 1973.  In 1984, he signed on to patrol games at Reunion Arena.  Four years later, he was heading up the entire security team and has been doing so ever since.

"I'm not a huge basketball fan," the veteran officer admitted.  "Then again, you don't want somebody to be in command of your detail who's a huge basketball fan, because they'll be watching the games instead of paying attention to the important things."

Lt. Payne estimates that he has patrolled some 1200 Mavericks games.  He's seen the good, the bad and the ugly.  "I want every game to be a victory.  Victories are just so much easier to work," Payne joked. "When they start losing, people start getting testy and we have to step in."

Payne was planning to retire in March, but the Mavericks convinced him to stay on until the end of the season.  It didn't hurt when Mark Cuban and the team paid tribute to his years of service at a home game in April; just before the playoffs started.

And what a wonderful playoff run it's been; even for a veteran officer.  "As we've progressed through this season, I wouldn't trade anything for working these tremendous games," Payne said.

Lt. Barry Payne walked the beat for his final game, Thursday night.  Twenty-seven years came to an end with a magical victory for the Mavs and fond memories of a career and a team that he loves so much.  "It's been a wonderful ride and my final words are, 'Go Mavs!'"