• Chairman

    Detective Lieutenant Nevin J. MattessichBio

    - Franklin Borough Police Department Lodge 57

    Detective Lieutenant Nevin J. Mattessich

    Nevin began his law enforcement career in 2000, after graduating from Caldwell College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and completing the Cape May County Police Academy. As a patrolman in Franklin Borough, Nevin has earned numerous awards and achievements including recognition by Mothers Against Drunk Drivers for his efforts in enforcing our drunk driving laws and ensuring the safety of our citizens. In 2003 Nevin was chosen in competitive testing for the position of Detective. As a Detective Nevin and his fellow officers conducted numerous investigations and enforcement actions making hundreds of narcotic arrests, forfeitures and seizures ensuring the safety of the resident s of Franklin Borough. Nevin has also conducted countless investigations into other areas of criminality including firearms violations, assaults, robberies and domestic violence. Nevin has also been instrumental in evidence retention and served as the public information officer. He has additionally served as the background investigator for forearms applications and police recruit candidates. In 2016 Nevin was promoted to Detective Sergeant where he oversaw the entire Detective Unit. Nevin was recently promoted to Detective Lieutenant in December 2018.

    Nevin has received various awards and accolades for his many years of dedicated service to the people of Franklin Borough. He is a member of the NJ Honor Legion, a graduate of the Top Gun training course and certified School Resource Officer.

    As a union leader, Nevin has served in various capacities in his local Lodge-Franklin Lodge 57. In 2013, Nevin was elected as President of Lodge 57 where he has been a staunch defender of his members rights and benefits, helping to successfully negotiate numerous contract successor agreements and resolving numerous labor issues. In 2014, Nevin was elected to the Fraternal Order of Police – New Jersey Labor Council Executive Board where he served as Board Secretary. In 2016 Nevin was elected to Vice Chairman and became the Chairman in September 2018. Nevin serves on several State committees within the FOP, including the Labor, Compliance and Expansion/Retention Committees.

  • Co-Chairwoman

    Sergeant Amy FrenzelBio

    - NJ Transit Police Lodge 37

    Sergeant Amy Frenzel

    Amy Frenzel was elected to the NJ FOP Labor Council in March of 2015. She has served as Secretary for the past three years and currently holds the position of Vice-Chairman. Amy has been a board member for local Lodge 37, NJ Transit Police Department, holding positions of Secretary and Vice President for the last decade.

    Amy was hired by NJ Transit Police Department in 2002. She was assigned to the South Region patrol from 2003 to 2009, working in Atlantic City, Camden and Trenton. Amy was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2009 and continued her assignment as patrol supervisor in the South Region. Amy relocated north in 2011 and worked as a patrol supervisor in Newark Penn Station, Central Communications and currently assigned to the Detective Bureau.

    Amy holds a B.A. and M.A. from Seton Hall University. She resides in Washington, NJ with her husband and two children.

  • Secretary

    Sergeant Leo TolosaBio

    - Rutgers University Police Department Lodge 164

    Sergeant Leo Tolosa

    Leonardo Tolosa is currently employed as a Sergeant for the Rutgers University Police – Newark Division. Leo was Born in Bogota, Colombia and immigrated to the United States in 1994. Upon completion of High School, he served for four years as a United States Marine as a Heavy Equipment Operating Engineer. Sergeant Tolosa joined the RUPD in 2006 as a Community Service Officer while completing his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Criminal Justice. Upon graduation in 2008, he became a Police Officer and has worked for both the Patrol and Community Policing Units. Sergeant Tolosa has continued to educate himself and currently holds a Master’s Degree in Labor and Employment Relations from Rutgers University. Leo is passionate about the field of Labor Relations and has served as the Sgt. at arms and Vice President of FOP Lodge 62 and will be sworn in as the Secretary of FOP Lodge 164 as of February 2019.

  • Board Member

    Lieutenant Shawn ReeceBio

    - Monmouth County Sheriff Office Lodge 30

    Lieutenant Shawn Reece

    Shawn began his law enforcement career as a corrections officer with the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office in 1997 after completing the Monmouth County Police Academy. Since 1997 Shawn has risen steadily through the ranks. In 2013 he was promoted to Sergeant and ultimately promoted to Lieutenant 2016. He currently is assigned as the Administrative Lieutenant and serves as the Tac Officer and is a member of the Hostage Negotiations Team. Prior to these assignments, Shawn served in the Gang Intelligence Unit, Accreditation Unit, as the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Facility Affairs Manager, and in the Classification Unit.

    He completed the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Team 287g program at the top of his class in 2010. In 2013, Shawn graduated from the Federal Bureau of Investigation Crisis Negotiations School. In 2018 he graduated from the NJ Correctional Leadership Series Class #2. Shawn currently serves on the State of NJ CJIS advisory committee and serves as the liaison for Monmouth County to the American Correctional Association.

    Shawn is currently the President of Lodge 30 and has previously served as the Lodge Secretary. He was voted on the Labor Council Board in 2016.

  • Board Member

    Patrolman Richard CoopeBio

    - Willingboro Police Department Lodge 38

    Patrolman Richard Coope

    “Coope” joined the NJLC executive board in March 2016. “Coope” became a police officer in Willingboro Township on October 9th, 2004 and has worked as a patrol officer where he serves on the FTO unit, EMT unit, EAP unit, Chaplain, and an Accident Investigator. Through his career he has been recognized by his Department and awarded 8 unit citations for life saving, duty above and beyond, and exemplary investigation skills in relation to two homicides and three robbery arrests/convictions.

    As an FOP leader, he has served on the executive board of FOP Lodge #38 as the Sgt. at Arms, Secretary, Vice President, and most recently Lodge President since January 2017. He has twice attended Leadership Matter seminars in Nashville, Tennessee on labor leadership. Outside of work he coaches youth hockey, raises money for cancer research, and volunteers on the statewide Mercury Team for critical incidents. Coope has an associate degree from Burlington County College and is working towards his Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice at Strayer University.

  • Board Member

    Lieutenant Scott CoxBio

    - Neptune Township Police Department Lodge 19

    Lieutenant Scott Cox

    Scott Cox is currently in his 23rd year with the Neptune Township Police Department. Before joining NTPD, he served in the United States Army from 1990 to 1994.

    Scott has served as a Union Representative for 18 of his 22 ½ years of police service. He is currently the President of F.O.P. Lodge #19, serving his 6th term in the position. He has also held various positions for his respective Unions such as Treasurer and Vice-President. He has been involved with every negotiation committee since being elected as a Union Representative.

    Scott is set to receive his “Negotiation, Arbitration, and Conflict Resolution” Certificate from Rutgers University, School of Management and Labor Relations, in April of 2019.

  • Executive Director

    Sgt. Sean C. Lavin (ret.)Bio

    - Mercer County Sheriff’s Office Lodge 140

    Sgt. Sean C. Lavin (ret.)

    Sean began his law enforcement career in juvenile and adult corrections. In 2000, Sean was hired by the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office and attended the 87th basic recruit class at the Trenton Police Academy. Sean was assigned to various units as a Sheriff’s Officer including patrol, courts, detective and the Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team. In 2001 Sean and his co-workers, Mike Vasil and Christina Kalm, founded the non-profit organization, “Officer Down” in response to the death of co-worker Kevin McManimon. In 2005 Sean was recognized as Sheriff’s Officer of the Year by his co-workers. He served in New Orleans as part of Operation LEAD during Hurricane Katrina. In 2006 Sean was promoted to Sergeant and served in the Operations, Courts, OEM and Airport Units. Sean also served as the Health Department liaison constructing security planning for mass epidemic/bio terror response and on Chief Justice Rabner’s Court Security Committee helping to restructure the court security protocols in the NJ Superior Courts.  As a union leader Sean has held positions in Lodge 140 continuously since 2006, including Secretary, Vice President, Trustee and is currently the President of Lodge 140. As a union member and leader, Sean and his brothers and sisters successfully advocated and won forty-eight (48) grievances and four (4) unfair practice charges, as well as, negotiating successor contracts.  In 2013 Sean was elected to the Executive Board of the Fraternal Order of Police – New Jersey Labor Council and served as the executive Chairman until 2014. Sean retired in 2015 due to several severe knee injuries received in the line of duty. Sean has a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree of Administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Sean has a certificate in Public Sector Labor Relations from Rutgers University. In 2018 he attended and completed the Negotiations and Leadership certificate program at Harvard Law School.
  • Executive Assistant

    Theresa VernonBio

    Theresa Vernon

    I came to work for the FOP Labor Council over 11 years ago after a short four-year stint as an instructional assistant in an elementary school. I really enjoyed working with special needs children, but I was ready to return to office administration work.  Prior to that I worked for a small, family owned, HVAC firm that specialized in commercial and industrial service and installation. I was with them for seventeen years total. During that time, I also formed partnership cleaning houses with a close friend for a couple years.  On a personal note, I have been happily married for almost twenty-two years. We have two beautiful, bright daughters and an amazing granddaughter. As a family we enjoy traveling, camping, fishing, yard games and just spending time together.  I must say that my time here at the FOP Labor Council has been incredibly rewarding. I have had the opportunity to meet so many of the brave first responders of this state for which I have so much respect. I enjoy helping make things for these men and women and their families a little easier, better hopefully, in some small way as often as possible. 
  • Senior Staff Representative

    Det. Ron Bakley (ret.)Bio

    - Gloucester Township Police Department – Lodge 9

    Det. Ron Bakley (ret.)

    Ron began his career in the Camden police Department and transferred to Gloucester Township in 1976. During his tenure as a patrolman and detective, Ron received numerous awards, accolades and recognition for his work and efforts. Additionally, in 1976, Ron served on the contract committee which negotiated the first collective negotiations agreement in Gloucester Township. He remained on the negotiations committee until his retirement.  In 1998 Ron began working as a founding member of the Fop-NJ Labor Council as a staff representative and support staff for the office located in Trenton.  Ron’s experience and dogged determination, coupled with his vast knowledge quickly became the cornerstone for staff representatives. Ron was asked and appointed to the position of Executive Director in 2000 and served with distinction until 2010. Ron continues to serve his brother and sister members as staff representative, bringing his unparalleled knowledge and experience in labor advocacy. On the local level Ron has served in all facets of leadership in his local lodge including as President of Lodge 9.  At the State level Ron has served on numerous committees including Legislation, Education, Labor and Expansion. Ron helped build our annual labor convention into the premier training for law enforcement labor in New Jersey. Has also advocated for numerous protections legislatively and ensured our members have had their voices heard in Trenton. He has been an advocate for the growth of the FOP in New Jersey, chartering dozens of new lodges and working with our members to ensure they have all the resources available to advocate and represent their membership. Nationally, Ron served over 20 years as the National Trustee for New Jersey. Ron has served on various National Committees, including expansion and labor. Ron’s determination and experience has been heard by our elected representative in Washington, as he has ensured our members rights are protected and voices have been heard.
  • Staff Representative

    Captain James Sepp (ret.)Bio

    - Bogota Police Department Lodge 161

    Captain James Sepp (ret.)

    James started his Law Enforcement career in December of 1989.  He worked in patrol from 1989 through 1999. In 2000 he became a Detective.  As a Detective James worked all facets of crimes from disorderly persons to homicide.  In 2008 he was promoted to Detective Sergeant and served as the Detective Bureau Commander.   James was on-loan with local, state and federal tasks forces.  In 2005 James worked on-loan with the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office working child sexual assaults and child pornography investigations. In 2009 James was back in patrol as a tour commander until September of 2010 when he was promoted to Acting Captain.  In January of 2011 James was promoted to Captain.  He became executive officer of his department.  James was responsible for Internal Affairs, payroll, scheduling, pensions, benefits, budgeting, purchasing and the fleet and continued on loan with the BCPO. James holds an Undergraduate Degree in Criminal Justice from New Jersey City University, he holds a Master’s Degree in Administration from FDU along with Master’s Certificates in Law and Public Safety and Computer Forensics and Safety.  James is enrolled at Rutgers University School of Management and Labor Relations and taking a certification course in Public Sector Labor Relations.

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