MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
While sheriff’s deputies, police officers, firefighters and EMS crews are the ones the public sees responding to emergencies, two men in Reno County are quietly serving behind the scenes, offering emotional, spiritual, and peer support during some of the most difficult moments first responders face.
Reno County law enforcement chaplains Richard Haley and Adam Wooten joined the BW Morning Show on Tuesday to talk about their work, their calling, and the growing mental-health needs among those who serve on the front lines.
Haley and Wooten began their chaplaincy together in 2021, completing their basic training through the International Conference of Police Chaplains (ICPC) that summer. Both men volunteer their time — Haley serving as a local pastor and Wooten employed by the City of Hutchinson.
Even with full-time jobs, the chaplains are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Haley typically covers 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Wooten handles the overnight hours.
“We’re both volunteer,” Wooten said. “We each have other jobs, but we are always on call for law enforcement.”
When tragedy strikes — whether an unattended death, major crash, violence, or an infant death, dispatch contacts one or both chaplains. They arrive on scene, coordinate with supervisors, and begin what Haley calls the “ministry of presence.”
“Our goal is simply to be there,” he said. “We provide spiritual and emotional support to victims, families, and officers. Sometimes that’s for a group. Sometimes it’s one-on-one. We stay until we’re no longer needed.”
Wooten also follows up with officers after critical incidents, helping lead debriefings and providing ongoing wellness support.
“Some officers still reach out about trauma from incidents that happened weeks ago,” Wooten said. “We continue those conversations as long as they need us.”
Though their primary responsibility is to the Hutchinson Police Department and Reno County Sheriff’s Office, the chaplains assist firefighters, dispatchers, EMS crews, and other first responders when needed.
“If we’re on scene and a firefighter or EMS provider needs support, we’re there for them just as much,” Wooten said.
To strengthen relationships, the chaplains regularly participate in ride-alongs, often on weekends, giving officers the chance to talk openly in a low-pressure environment.
“They get comfortable, they share their stories, and if they ask for prayer, we follow up,” Wooten said. “Trust builds every time we do that.”
One of the pair’s most appreciated traditions is the annual Thanksgiving meal for first responders working the holiday. What began as an idea during a Friday prayer breakfast has grown into a major community-supported effort.
“This year we served 122 meals between lunch and dinner on Thanksgiving Day,” Haley said. “Some officers pick up meals, some sit and eat, and we deliver to dispatch, the jail, and EMS.”
The effort is supported by community donors, including significant contributions from Elliott Mortuary and others.
Haley and Wooten emphasized the intense emotional weight officers carry. While the average person may encounter only a few traumatic events in a lifetime, law enforcement officers may experience multiple tragedies in a single week.
“Officers respond when someone is having the worst day of their life,” Haley said. “Our job is to help them cope with what they see every day.”
Haley and Wooten encourage officers — and their spouses — to reach out if something feels off.
“Sometimes the wife sees the symptoms first,” Wooten noted. “We want them to call us. We’re always available.”
Ultimately, the chaplains say the job comes down to relationships.
“The more time we spend with them, the more trust grows,” Haley said. “We want them to know we love them, we pray for them, and we’re here for them.”
Haley and Wooten say they don’t serve for recognition — only to support the men and women who protect Reno County.
“We’re behind the scenes,” Haley said. “But we’re here whenever they need us.”