Carol Stream restructures entire police department

Carol Stream officials approved a plan Monday that saves more than $80,000 in salaries by restructuring the police department to add a deputy chief and create three commander positions.

The plan also eliminates three of the department's nine sergeant positions and its two lieutenant positions. It goes into effect May 1 to coincide with the next fiscal year.

"It allows us to run more efficiently," Chief Kevin Orr said. "It will make operations more efficient in the department and make it better supervised."

The move has been discussed repeatedly over the past six years. In October, police were given the green light by the board and Orr and Village Manager Joe Breinig worked on the ordinance.

The new structure also leaves the position of emergency management coordinator vacant.

"This is going to save money in our personnel dollars," Trustee Donald Weiss said. "We're not looking at creating these new grandiose commander positions. We're going to be saving money."

Orr and Breinig will interview applicants for the commander and deputy chief positions with Breinig having the final say on who to hire. Orr said during the meeting that a minimum of six years' experience will be required and a bachelor's degree will be preferred.

Trustee Greg Schwarze was the lone dissenter in the 5-to-1 vote to authorize the restructuring. While the Carol Stream firefighter/paramedic said he has the utmost confidence in Orr and Breinig, his concern is that the chance for promotions from within will decrease.

Under the current system, Schwarze said, the sergeant and deputy chief positions are promoted exclusively from within. However, the new policy could allow outside applicants to get high-level positions.

The approval for the restructuring is expected to save the village $81,750.

Trustee Pam Fenner said it will be up to the board to question the chief and village manager if they feel a poor hire has been made. She said it's similar to the current system in which the board oversees deputy chief hires.

"I think the checks and balances have been there," Fenner said. "This is just one more layer that we have oversight on."