Elgin officials will consider altering the hierarchy of the police department – a move that would improve efficiency, according to Police Chief Jeff Swoboda.

Currently, there are three deputy chief positions directly under Swoboda, with seven lieutenant and 22 sergeant positions reporting to them.

Swoboda proposes eliminating the two already vacant deputy chief positions and instead creating three commander positions. Under the new plan, there would also be one less lieutenant spot, Swoboda said. No one will lose their job as part of the plan, as not all positions within the department are filled.

Swoboda said he’s been researching how to improve efficiency in the department, and after former Deputy Chief Robert Beeter retired under the employee buyout option earlier this month, the timing was right.

“We’re not as efficient as we could be,” he said.

The new commander positions would be “working administrators,” in charge of three separate areas within the department — operations, investigations and adjudication/support, Swoboda said. It would free up Deputy Chief Cecil Smith, who would oversee the commanders, to solely be in charge of discipline and training, and also serve as chief when needed.

Each commander, which is a non-union position, would be paid up to $118, 067, officials said. The estimated net cost of eliminating the deputy chief and lieutenant positions and adding the commander posts will cost about $164,000 a year.

However, Swoboda said the department will offset that cost by looking at changing the crossing guard program for U-46. The department has already started that process last month by cutting pay for the city’s crossing guards, officials said.

Elgin council members will discuss the proposal tonight, and are expected to consider final approval March 7. If approved, Swoboda said he could begin filling the commander positions as early as late March.