New York President
Chris Sasso
Chris began his career in June of 1992 & was assigned to the 17th pct in Manhattan South where he was assigned & performed such duties as patrol, Anti-crime & Conditions. Chris served his entire career working the midnight tours until he retired in June of 2017.
He was also elected PBA Delegate in 2005 & served in that position until his retirement & still maintains a strong relationship with the union & has maintained good relationships with all the other unions within the Department.
He has been & continues to be a member & supporter of numerous fraternal organizations & has been involved with them & their members in supporting them in many ways.
He joined Smoking Shields shortly after its inception in 2015 and has been a long supporter to the organization & all it represents.
Chris served on the House Committee prior to having the distinction and honor of coming President. Chris is looking forward to bringing the organization to a level that exemplifies what the law enforcement idea of brotherhood signifies by continuing the Smoking Shields' involvement in numerous charities, working within neighboring & local enforcement agencies, the numerous unions, fellow organizations & fraternal organizations
Chris was born & raised in the Bronx & still keeps ties with the community where he grew up.
In 2005, Chris made the move to Nassau County & resides in Seaford
Jay Kopp
Frank Prov
Vice President
Jay joined the NYC Transit Police in 1981 where he worked uniformed patrol. He then transferred to citywide anti-crime. In1987 he was promoted to Sergeant and was assigned to the Pickpocket Squad. 1992 he was assigned to the Decoy Unit in the Detective Bureau. In1994 the Transit Police was merged into the NYC Police Department where he was assigned to the Brooklyn Robbery Squad. 1996 he was promoted to Lieutenant and assigned as the Commanding Officer of the 90th Precinct Detective Squad.
On November 29th 2001 he retired as a Lieutenant Commander, Detective Squad.
Anthony Bonilla
Treasurer
Anthony was appointed Treasurer for the New York Smoking Shields at the beginning of 2024. Anthony coordinates and oversees financial planning and audits, procurement of goods and services, payment for expenditures, tax forms and capital construction projects for the New York Chapter. Anthony joined the NYPD in 1999, where he worked as a housing cop in Queens. Currently, he is a 1st Grade detective with 25 years on the job and assigned to the Detective Bureau’s Auto Crime Division.
Recording Secretary
Frank is new to the Board but is not new to the organization. We welcome his input, and we appreciate him stepping up to help grow Smoking Shields. He will be an asset to the organization.
Scott Velazquez
Sergeant At Arms
Email me
Scott has returned as Sergeant-at-Arms after serving as Vice President with the New York chapter of Smoking Shields. He retired as a 2nd Grade Detective with the NYPD where he began his career in 2000. Scott was assigned to the NYPD/FBI Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force where he investigated Child Predator an Human Trafficking cases. He was also a member of the nationwide Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Previous assignments were the 067 PCT, Vice Enforcement Division, Major Case Vice Trafficking Team. Scott is married, has a son, daughter and granddaughter.
Suffolk County Lodge
Board of Officers
Mike Baker
Vice President
MIchael started with the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office in 2004. He spent a majority of his career working midnights in the Riverhead Facility. He recently became a HALT officer and now is expanding the program in the Yaphank Facility.
Michael is also an Army Veteran, being deployed in Bosnia in 97-98 for Operation Joint Guard with the 423Rd MP Co.
Michael joined the Smoking Shields at the Pig Roast in 2017. In 2023, he became the VP of the newly formed Suffolk County Lodge.
Michael is married and has 4 daughters and 1 grandson.
ED ROGAN, Jr.
TREASURER
Mike Silvestri, Jr.
Recording Secretary
Is a Retired Nassau County Detective. Started as a 6th Pct cop in Great Neck in 1986. After spending time in the Computer Section, was promoted to Detective in 1997 and assigned to the 5th Squad in Elmont. Ed transferred to Robbery Squad in 2011 and retired after nearly 32 years in 2017 just after joining Smoking Shields. Ed is married and has three daughters and two grandsons. Ed is very active in the community with Knights of Columbus, Smithtown Security guard and officiating soccer.
Mike began his law enforcement career as a civilian contractor with the United States Marshals Service for SDNY in January of 2013. Mike joined the New York City Police Department as a Police Officer in July of 2013; where he was assigned to the 73 Precinct and 113 Precinct. Mike joined Smoking Shields New York in 2016 while employed with the NYPD.
In January of 2018, Mike joined the United States Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations as a Special Agent, where he is currently assigned to the HSI New York - Transnational Crime Task Force.
In September of 2023, Mike joined his fellow Suffolk members in the creation of the Suffolk Lodge and is proud to serve as its Recording Secretary.
