Fly High, Officer Hayworth

  Some calls you never forget. I still remember the smell, the heat, the flames. We were clearing Wake Med from another call when we heard the "SIGNAL 25, SIGNAL 25, SIGNAL 25!!" come across the radio. I was working with a new recruit, already medically cleared and one of my own trainees who was moved to me for the night. "Patti, we've got to go to this!". I was typing a chart from a young girl who we brought to the hospital because she had stopped breathing. Funny, normally I'd remember that call... but I don't.

We put ourselves in service and immediately got dispatched. The call was on I540. A signal 25 is a code for "Officer down". I quickly read the CAD notes and questioned out loud "WHO THE HELL IS SHOOTING COPS ON THE HIGHWAY?" I don't know why I had it in my head that there was someone shot, probably because that's usually the cause of "signal 25s".

As Peyton drove, I continually read CAD notes, listened to the radio in an effort to mentally prepare him and myself for the officer and his gunshot wounds. We were not prepared for what we were about to see. 

Where has a year gone. Officer Ryan Hayworth was just 23 years old when he was killed a year ago today. This is one of those calls that stay with you forever. Ryan, I think of you every day. I pray for your family and for your department as we run calls without you. You're missed.

RYAN ANDREW HAYWORTH

Police Officer Ryan Hayworth was killed when his patrol car was struck from behind by a suspected drunk driver at about 2:40 am.

Officer Hayworth, along with his training officer, were at the scene of a single-vehicle crash on I-540, near mile marker 22, when their patrol car was struck by the other vehicle, which failed to move over or reduce its speed. Officer Hayworth suffered fatal injuries in the collision. His training officer, as well as the original accident victim and the suspected drunk driver, were seriously injured.

Officer Hayworth was a U.S. Army veteran and had served with the Knightdale Police Department for only three months. He is survived by his father, mother, brother, and two step-brothers. His father was a retired Police Chief of the Zebulon Police Department.



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