A 27-year veteran of the Elgin Fire Department has been named its interim chief, officials said.
Assistant Fire Chief Robert Cagann will head the department until a replacement is found for retired Chief David Schmidt, City Manager Rick Kozal said. After 30 years with Elgin, Schmidt retired last week to become fire chief in Carrboro, North Carolina.
"I am wholly confident that the exemplary service for which the Elgin Fire Department is recognized will continue unabated under Interim Chief Cagann’s leadership until a new fire chief is appointed,” Kozal said in a news release. Cagann started his career as an Elgin firefighter in 1993 and was promoted to lieutenant in 2001, captain in 2008, battalion chief in 2015 and assistant chief in 2017.