By Nick Petersen ● BocaJump | March 16, 2012
The Elgin Police Department on Friday honored a retiring veteran police officer and promoted eight others, including three who have been named commanders as part of the department’s reorganization.
The retirement and promotion ceremony at The Centre in Elgin marked the completion of Police Chief Jeff Swoboda’s reorganization plan. It eliminates two deputy chief positions and creates three commanders, who would split their time between hands-on policing and administration.
Swoboda said the administrative change “flattens the organization” while getting more officers on the street. He said the move will create greater efficiency within the department without increasing manpower.
The chief praised Sgt. Jose Morales, who is retiring after more than 24 years on the force, for being a police officer “who made quite difference in the Elgin community.” First hired in 1988, Morales served as a patrol officer and school liaison officer for Larkin High School, and for Ellis and Larsen middle schools. The Puerto Rican Morales, who was the second Latino in the department, was promoted to sergeant in August 2000, where he served in the patrol division, major investigations division, and the juvenile and school liaison units.
George Irizarry, representing the Hispanic Heritage Coalition and the Elgin Latino Political Action Team, presented Morales with a plaque for “outstanding service to the Hispanic and Elgin community.”
The three appointed to the commander positions, who Swoboda commended for “thinking big,” dedication to the department and personally putting the community policy philosophy into action, are:
- Lt. Bill Wolf, a sworn officer since 1992;
- Lt. Glenn Theriault, who became an Elgin police officer in 1995;
- Lt. Ana Lalley, who has been with the department since 1996.
Promoted to the rank of lieutenant were:
- Sgt. Frank Trost, also hired in 1999;
- Sgt. Dan O’Shea, a sworn officer since 1999.
Promoted to the rank of sergeant were:
- Officer Kevin Senne, hired by the department in 2001;
- Officer Jim Roscher, who has been on the force since 1995;
- Officer Colin Fleury, a 12-year police department veteran.
