Elgin Police Chief Ana Lalley has appointed a new command staff, promoted seven officers to the ranks of lieutenants and sergeants, and swore in five newly minted police officers as the department continues to evolve into a younger police force.
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“There’s been a lot of transitioning,” Lalley said.
The new commanders are David Lesko, Jim Lullo and Kevin Senne, who were recently sworn in to their posts. They fill the department vacancies created this summer when three of the department’s top officers left this summer for new jobs.
“I’m excited for all three of them,” Lalley said. “I respect them and their work. I think they will be a great fit. I’m happy to have three commanders again.”
Lesko is heading patrol operations. The 24-year veteran, who has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Judson University in Elgin, started as a patrol officer and has served in different positions in the department. His longest assignment was 14 years as a detective.
Senne is heading up the strategic initiatives division. He’s a 20-year veteran who was assigned to the traffic unit and has overseen over 30 fatal traffic crash investigations. Senne also has done special event planning.
Lullo is leading the investigations and records divisions. He’s been an officer for more than 30 years, 20 of which have been with Elgin, Lalley said. Previously a senior sergeant in the Major Investigations Unit, Lullo’s currently completing a bachelor’s degree at Eastern Illinois University.
Each commander has different strengths, but all have one thing in common, Lalley said. They “care about the community and care about the department the way I do,” she said.
Lullo’s career trajectory is different than most because he was promoted from sergeant to commander. Like Lesko and Senne, he oversees the division he’s been assigned to for a long time so he know how the day-to-day operations work, the chief said.
“He’s had many different experiences that make him, without a doubt, ready to be a commander,” Lalley said. “You can’t replace 20 years of experience.”
The department’s newest lieutenants are Travis Hooker and Todd Pavoris. The five officers promoted to sergeant are Miriam Duffy, Randy Fries, Darin Hood, Dan McNanna and James Raap.
Joining Elgin as new officers Stephanie Morales, Miriam Jimenez, Josue Quintana, Jeremy Flentge and Kayla Heal, Lalley said. Three of the five will be graduating from the police academy in two weeks, she said.
The police department’s eligibility list for new officers has expired so it’s going through the hiring process now. Forty-five people currently are going through the background check process, Lalley said.
“We definitely had fewer applications than years past, but we expected that because of a lot of stuff going on with COVID and things happening throughout 2020,” she said.
It’s hard to say how many people will pass the background check and continue in the hiring process, Lalley said. On average, 10% to 15% won’t make all the way to the final list, she said.
“We have a hard process to get hired. There’s a lot of checks and balances, and our standards are very high,” Lalley said.
The new eligibility list expected to be final by December, after which they plan on making more hires, she said. After another batch of retirements in the next six months turnover should slow down, she said.
Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.