Bucks County Dispatcher Retires After 34 Years

With more than 40 years in the emergency services field, Rick Worrell has seen and heard just about any heartbreaking tragedy one can imagine. However, it wasn't until the death of 9-year-old Holly Berry Huynh in November 2012 that the harsh realities of the job began to get to him.

Huynh was traveling with her grandmother on Route 611 in Doylestown when Drew Bodden slammed into the back of the Honda CR-V while drag racing at more than 140 miles per hour. Worrell worked the whole call during a night that he would never forget.

"That wreck bothered me like nothing else," said Worrell. "My wife had to ask me if I was okay. I have a 9-year-old grandson and 4-year-old granddaughter. I couldn't get past it. That's when I knew I had enough."

Thursday morning at 8 a.m, Worrell, also known as Bucks County Dispatcher 208, signed off for the last time from the 911 Fire Communications Center in Ivyland. Fire companies throughout Bucks County took to the radio and social media to wish Worrell the best of luck.

"I wish you all the best and for you all to stay safe," said Worrell during his final broadcast. "This is dispatcher 208 saying goodbye."

Growing up with his firefighter father, Worrell began listening in on fire calls with his scanner when he was 17-years-old. The hobby turned into a way of life when he started working part time in the radio room for the Yardley Police Department in 1979, where he stayed until 2006. Worrell is also a lifetime member for the Yardley-Makefield Volunteer Fire Company.

Worrell and his wife plan to move to Florida once his stepson is ready to purchase their Perkasie home, a process that could take from six months to a year or more.

"We not in a big hurry," said Worrell, "but after all the rain and snow the past couple weeks, we are ready to move to the gulf coast."