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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618580109164.jpeg" alt="Hays Police Lt. Jeff Ridgway, Chief Don Scheibler, Lt. Brandon Wright, and Deputy Chief&nbsp; Brian Dawson look on as dispatch employees post for pictures with city commissioners Thursday as part of&nbsp;&nbsp;National Public Safety Telecommunications Week." />
 <figcaption>Hays Police Lt. Jeff Ridgway, Chief Don Scheibler, Lt. Brandon Wright, and Deputy Chief&nbsp; Brian Dawson look on as dispatch employees post for pictures with city commissioners Thursday as part of&nbsp;&nbsp;National Public Safety Telecommunications Week.</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays Post&nbsp;Hays police officers gave a standing ovation Thursday night for their emergency dispatchers following Mayor Sandy Jacobs' proclamation celebrating National Public Safety Telecommunications Week in Hays.&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5e08e31357544d3fe90e8708">The Hays Police Department has overseen the communications department since it was transferred back to HPD control at the end of 2019</a>. It&nbsp;continues to service law enforcement agencies in Ellis County along with fire departments and Ellis County EMS.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UJqZBfzVio0"></iframe>
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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618581206603.jpeg" alt="Front row: Shift Lead Brian Meis, Shift Lead Rachel Kraus, Dispatcher Schuyler Augustine, Mayor Sandy Jacobs, Dispatcher Abigail Bussen. Back row: Commissioner Ron Mellick, Commissioner Michael Burges, Vice Mayor Mason Ruder, and Commissioner Shaun Musil." />
 <figcaption>Front row: Shift Lead Brian Meis, Shift Lead Rachel Kraus, Dispatcher Schuyler Augustine, Mayor Sandy Jacobs, Dispatcher Abigail Bussen. Back row: Commissioner Ron Mellick, Commissioner Michael Burges, Vice Mayor Mason Ruder, and Commissioner Shaun Musil.</figcaption>
 </figure>Jacobs told the department employees who posed for pictures with city commissioners "this really was an honor to read.""When I became mayor, I had tours of multiple [city departments]. And the most important tour I got was the dispatch area."I was so moved by the compassion, the skill set," Jacobs said. "I was amazed.&nbsp;"Having been a citizen of Hays all these years, I really didn't understand. But I do now and you are very much appreciated."&nbsp;The police department&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/3e3e5503-421b-40b9-8aeb-9308259c924f">celebrated its dispatchers</a> all last week.&nbsp;

🎥 MAYOR: 'Now I understand' after touring emergency dispatch center