Hometown Heroes: David “Doogie” Price, Anne Arundel County Fire Department

“I tell everybody, ‘Be nice.’ The whole reason we are here is to help and be nice. The people that have called us – it’s their worst moment. That’s why they’ve called 911. … I tell all the rookies, that’s what you need to do: Be nice.”

Retired Captain David “Doogie” Price worked alongside many rookies over his 36-year career with the Anne Arundel County Fire Department, which began in 1990 and concluded on October 1, 2026.

Price was born and raised in Geneseo, New York, a small town south of Rochester. He vividly remembers the firefighters who came to speak to his kindergarten class and show them their fire engine. When Price turned 18, he began volunteering as a firefighter and experienced a full-circle moment when he got to ride with those men who had planted a seed 13 years earlier.

A seed had also been planted at home. Price’s father was a volunteer firefighter for over 60 years. Price set out to study chemistry and psychology in college, but once he began to volunteer with his dad, he knew what he wanted to do.

Before the era of email, he wrote to a company he found in the back of “Firehouse” magazine that sent him lists of departments that were hiring around the country. On the last page of the list, he found the first opening that was for a firefighter, not a paramedic or chief. He wrote another letter, this time requesting that the Anne Arundel County Fire Department send him an application.

He reported to the training academy on August 30, 1990.

“When I got hired, I was 20 years old and looked like I was 12,” Price recalled, adding that the other guys in the academy determined to give him a nickname. Their EMT instructor, Captain E. Mark Dubel, beat them to it. He looked at Price and said, “Doogie Howser, EMT.”

“Doogie,” or “Doog” to some, stuck.

“I answer to that more than I do ‘David,’” Price shared.

His 36-year career crisscrossed the county. Price began his first assignment in Shadyside, then went to Cape St. Claire. He was promoted to lieutenant while at the South Glen Burnie Fire Station and was later promoted to captain while at the West Annapolis station. He spent the final six years of his career as captain at the Arnold station.

“I ran calls out of every house except for the brand new one down at Herald Harbor,” Price said.

Over the years, Price served as a public information officer and as a staff officer at the training academy. He was part of the department’s Peer Support Team for nearly 25 years and has been a member of the Honor Guard for 30 years.

Price didn’t keep track of how many calls he ran over three and a half decades, though the number would likely be in the tens of thousands. What he did take note of was the people – those with whom he served, and those whom they served together – including a baby he delivered in a Cape St. Claire family’s bathroom 33 years ago.

“The people of Arnold are wonderful,” Price shared. “I love showing off my fire engine. The guys (at the station) will tell you, we will spend time on calls afterwards to show it off to kids.

“I still to this day remember the guys that came to my kindergarten class. So I wanted to do that and pass that on. You never know who you’re going to (inspire) to become a firefighter.”

He enjoyed mentoring new recruits as they began their careers, just as firefighters in Glen Burnie had mentored him. Witnessing Arnold firefighter Joe Sary’s promotion to lieutenant, a young firefighter becoming a paramedic, and another being promoted to driver are highlights for Price.

“Seeing where the next generation is going in the fire service and having a hand in guiding what they’re doing has been amazing for me,” he said.

A hockey player since the age of 7, Price feared he would have to hang up his skates when he moved to Maryland. On the contrary, he discovered an opportunity not only to play with an adult hockey league for over 20 years, but also to become a founding father of the Anne Arundel County Fire Department’s Pickheads hockey team.

At 56 years old, Price knew it was time to retire, though he still loved the job. His last shift ran 20 minutes long because he ran a late call. “I still wanted to help as much as I can right up to the very end,” he said.

He is now looking forward to the next chapter of life with his wife Sheri. They have two adult children and plan to relocate from Pasadena to become snowbirds, splitting their time between New York and Florida. He will continue to play as much hockey as he can, too, touting a new life motto: “Have stick, will travel.”