Church, Pastor honored by Hutchinson Police for aiding first responders during February tragedy

HUTCHINSON — The Hutchinson Police Department recognized a local pastor and his congregation for opening their doors to hundreds of first responders during a frigid February emergency, honoring the pair at the department's annual Awards and Recognition Ceremony this past weekend.

Reverend Charles Crumble Sr. and New Resurrection Church, located at 1001 E. 3rd Ave., received community service awards for their support during a multi-agency response in the 1000 block of East 3rd Avenue on Feb. 1, 2025.

In the early morning hours of that day, first responders from five local and state agencies worked the scene in temperatures hovering around 25 degrees. When the Hutchinson Police Department notified Crumble of the conditions his congregation was facing, the reverend unlocked the church and offered shelter and restroom facilities to all personnel on duty.

As the morning progressed, Crumble announced the church would prepare lunch for all personnel on scene. First responders were served goulash and sandwiches along with snacks, drinks and desserts. Congregation members remained actively engaged throughout the response, ensuring responders had a warm place to rest and offering spiritual guidance to those who requested it.

Church staff maintained open communication with incident personnel throughout the day to identify any additional needs. The church remained open for the duration of the response.

The Hutchinson Police Department credited the congregation's support with helping officers, firefighters, agents and crime scene personnel cope with what it described as a traumatic scene.

The department's annual Awards and Recognition Ceremony also honored Hutchinson Police Department employees for their achievements throughout 2025.