MANHATTAN, Kan. — The Hutchinson Police Department announced Friday that four officers received awards at the 2022 Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police Valor Banquet held in Manhattan Wednesday.
Sgt. Cole Long was given a silver award. On April 11, 2021, Sgt. Long was patrolling south of the 1500 block West 12th Avenue when he heard two gunshots. He immediately responded to the area and located a victim lying in the street suffering from a gunshot wound. Long dragged the victim to the passenger side of his patrol vehicle for cover. While tending to the victim, Sgt. Long saw another male walking nearby. This was later identified as the suspect. During the incident, Sgt. Long communicated and coordinated well with other officers. He stayed calm and collected in the face of a very dangerous situation. Because of Sgt. Long’s courage, the victim was able to make a full recovery.
Officer Matthew Rucker, Field Training Officer Ross Alison and Field Training Officer Trevor Boudreaux all received bronze awards. On Aug. 21, 2021, officers with Hutchinson Police Department were dispatched to 1707 E. Blanchard in reference to a shooting. Officers were provided with little information while en route to the scene. They were told there was a suicidal subject in the residence with a firearm. Just before they arrived on scene, the reporting party said the subject shot the weapon.
When officers arrived, they established a perimeter and immediately saw a young child in the front doorway. The child would not exit the residence, but officers believed the child could not hear them through the door. Officers also knew there were at least two children still inside the residence.
Rucker, Alison and Boudreaux made the decision to move up to the residence to get the children out. Alison stood up front with a ballistic shield while Alison and Boudreaux went inside and quickly formed a wall for Rucker, who found the children in a nearby hallway and helped escort them outside to safety.
The three officers rushed into the residence, putting the lives of others in front of their own.
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