By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
ELLIS — Last Friday, Ellis City Council members — along with friends and family and law enforcement from various area agencies — gathered in celebration of the retirement of Ellis Police Chief Taft Yates, sharing stories, handshakes and hugs.
With his usual straightforward demeanor, Yates shared some thoughts with the group about his time in the position and how he was called to serve the city.
“First of all, I would like to thank you all for taking time and showing up for whatever reason, whether it’s to kick my ass out the door or whatever it may be,” he said as the group openly laughed.
“It’s been an honor in everything I have done. As I have told many people before, believe it or not, and it is an easy cliché to say, but I can honestly say that I have lived the dream. I have. And now it’s time to move on to the next phase in life.”
While he has served in law enforcement for 17 years, becoming a police officer was not something to which he had aspired.
“Never in my life did I dream I would be a cop,” Yates said.
He reflected back to 2002 when he met members of the Hays Police Department, through his wife who suggested he apply.
“They screwed up and hired me,” Yates said of landing a position on the HPD.
While he was serving as a military trainer in Africa, his name was suggested as a potential officer for the Ellis Police Department and the then-chief Randy Taylor brought him on.
Yates would move into the role of chief after Taylor moved to another position and now he said the time has come to spend more time with family and pursue other opportunities.
“After putting it out there for 45 years, I’m going to miss it. I will. I won’t lie about it,” Yates said.
In closing, he thanked the group.
“Thanks to every one of you, God bless you. Keep doing the things that you are doing,. Don’t falter. I know you won’t.,” he said.
After his remarks, Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler shared his gratitude for Yates' service.
“It was a pleasure working with you, personally and not only as the police chief of Ellis, but also in the Hays Police Department,” Scheibler said. “Taft has always been a cop’s cop. Taft comes to work willing to carry his share of the load. He’s a hard worker trying to do the right thing for the right reasons. If you needed a backup, you knew Taft was coming, and he was coming hard.”
In closing, Scheibler presented Yates with a plaque on behalf of the Chiefs of Police Association of Kansas.
“As a chief, you want to leave a department better than you found it, and Chief Yates has definitely knocked it out of the park,” he said.
Ellis Mayor David McDaniel also shared his gratitude.
“I would like to recognize Chief Yates for his service to the city of Ellis and award his this plaque for his faithful service,” McDaniel said.
Ellis County Sheriff Ed Harbin, who himself will retire next year, said Yates was an asset to the community.
“He was a good guy to work with. He was always available when you need him and he always worked well with people,” Harbin said. “We are going to miss him, but I wish him the best in his retirement. Ellis is going to miss him too, I can tell that right now.”
With Yates' departure, Officer Chris Krom will serve as interim chief. He said Yates helped bring the department forward during his tenure.
“Chief Yates has done a lot for the department. It’s definitely a better department than when he started,” Krom said. “He has been good to work for, he is fair, and he has taken the department several steps forward.”
While the search for a permanent police chief continues, Yates said Krom will continue pushing the department into the future.
“He is going to do well taking this place forward,” Yates said.