The NECNA Board
Our board members kindly volunteer their time to support the growth of the organization and the professional development and training of new and seasoned negotiators alike.
Our board consists of active duty and retired experts in the field.
Cpt (Retired) Wayne Cole
President
Wayne retired as a Captain from the Connecticut Department of Correction with 21 years of service. In 2013, he joined the agency’s Situational Control (SITCON) Hostage Negotiation Team as a negotiator and served as the team’s Commander for over five years until his retirement. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of New Haven and a Master of Public Health from the University of Connecticut. Wayne is currently the President on the NECNA Board and previously served as the Connecticut Representative and 1st Vice President. He continues to volunteer to teach at FBI 40-hour Basic Crisis Negotiation courses and at other negotiation trainings for agencies, as needed.
Connecticut Department of Correction
Deputy Chief Jennifer Hatch
1st Vice President
Jen began her career in law enforcement in 2003, serving 17 years at Waterville PD, and is currently a Deputy Chief at the Belfast (ME) Police Department. She has been a negotiator since 2012, was the Waterville PD’s Crisis Negotiation Team Leader, and is now a negotiator for Belfast PD. She is currently the 1st Vice President on the NECNA Board, and previously held the position of Maine Representative and Secretary.
Belfast (ME) Police Department
Sgt (Retired) Tim Wilk
2nd Vice President
Tim is retired from the Southington (CT) Police Department after 24 years. He was a patrol supervisor and the Crisis Negotiation Team Leader for the Central Region Emergency Response Team, a member of his department's peer support team, and assisted with instruction at his local FBI 40-hour Basic Crisis Negotiation Course each year. Tim is currently the 2nd Vice President on the NECNA Board and previously served as the Connecticut Representative.
Southington Police Department
Sgt (Retired) Phillip Hadden
Secretary
Phil proudly served for 37 years of law enforcement with the Trumbull (CT) Police Department. He was a negotiator for over 25 years and was the Commander of the Southwest Regional Emergency Response Team (SWRERT) for over 13 years. He also graduated from the 80-hour FBI-National Crisis Negotiation Course in Quantico in 2017. Phil has held several positions within the NECNA Board of Directors, from the Connecticut State Representative to the President. Phil recently stepped down as the President of NECNA after eight years of leadership. Currently, he still assists in teaching the FBI 40-hour Basic Class at the Connecticut Police Academy in Meriden and serves at the NECNA Secretary.
Trumbull (CT) Police Department
Sgt Matthew Moretti
Treasurer
Matt is a sergeant with the Warwick (RI) Police Department and has been with the agency since 2007. He has been a negotiator since 2009. Matt is currently assigned as the dayshift community police supervisor for the school resource officers, K9 unit, sex offender unit and Police Athletic League. Prior to his promotion he was a task force officer assigned to the RI Violent Fugitive Task Force and US Marshal Service Sex Offender Investigation Branch. Matt is currently the Treasurer on the NECNA Board and previously served as the Rhode Island Representative.
Warwick (RI) Police Department
Officer Mark Suda Jr.
CT Representative
Mark is an Officer with the Norwalk Police Department and has been since 1993. Mark is currently the Lead Investigator in the Special Services Division (Narcotics, Vice and Organized Crime) where he has served since 2001. Mark has been assigned to the FBI Safe Streets, DEA and ATF task forces throughout his career. He has also done extensive undercover work throughout the Tri-State. In addition, Mark has been a Crisis Negotiator since 2018 and has attended the FBI 40-hour course and Advanced course. Prior to that, he was a member of the Norwalk Police Tactical Response Team for 10 years. Mark is currently the Connecticut Representative on the NECNA Board.
Norwalk (CT) Police Department
Officer (Retired) Alden Weigelt
ME Representative
Alden has been a trained negotiator since 2004, but he started his career in law enforcement in 1997. He was with the Oakland (ME) Police Department for 10 years, rising to the rank of Captain. He then served 11 years with the Waterville (ME) Police Department, rising to the rank of Sergeant. Alden retired as an Officer with the Maine Capitol Police Department in 2024 after over 6 years with their agency. Alden is currently the Maine Representative on the NECNA Board.
Maine Capitol Police
Cpt Michael Knight
MA Representative
Mike began his career at the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office in 2012. He attended the FBI Crisis Negotiation class in 2015 as a representative of SEMLEC SWAT. In 2016, he gained a dual role by becoming a member of MetroLEC CNT as well. Mike is the Unit Commander for Metro alongside his primary duties as the Captain of the Firearms Division for the Sherriff’s Office. Mike is currently the Massachusetts representative on the NECNA Board.
Plymouth County (MA) Sheriff’s Office
Officer Sarah Foster
NH Representative
Sarah has been proudly serving with the Manchester Police Department since 2014. Over the course of her career, she has taken on a wide range of specialized roles that reflect her dedication, versatility, and commitment to public safety. Sarah has served as a Field Training Officer, K9 Handler, and Narcotics Detective. In 2018, Sarah was chosen to join the Manchester Police Department’s Crisis Negotiation Team. That same year, she completed the FBI’s 40-hour Crisis Negotiation Course. Sarah is currently the New Hampshire Representative to the NECNA Board.
Manchester (NH) Police Department
Officer Michael Ethier
RI Representative
Michael has been proudly serving as a patrol officer for the Newport, RI Police Department since 2016. After joining the department’s Crisis Negotiation Team in 2019, he attended the FBI 40-hour Crisis Negotiation Team in January of 2021 and continues to serve as a negotiator on the Newport County Crisis Negotiation Unit, which was regionalized in 2024. Michael is currently the Rhode Island Representative on the NECNA Board.
Newport (RI) Police Department
Det Cpl Krystal Wrinn
VT Representative
Krystal started her career with the Burlington Police Department in 2009 and is a Detective with the Major Crime Unit. She attended the FBI Crisis Negotiation course in 2013 and is the Assistant Team Leader for the Burlington Police Department’s Crisis Negotiation Unit. In addition to negotiation duties, she is charged with improving the unit’s training and equipment. Krystal is currently the Vermont representative on the NECNA Board.
Burlington (VT) Police Department