The Jackson Township Police Department officially welcomed two new full-time officers during a township council meeting last week.
Public Safety Director Joseph Candido and Captain Mary Nelson introduced Officers Mason Kinlan and Jonathan Pauciullo to the community, thanking Mayor Michael Reina and his administration for their continued support of public safety initiatives.
Officer Mason Kinlan, badge #355, is no stranger to Jackson. Born and raised in the township, Kinlan graduated from Jackson Memorial High School in June 2023. Shortly afterward, he joined the Seaside Park Police Department and attended the Ocean County Police Academy, graduating in May 2024. He served the summer of 2024 as a Class II Special Officer in Seaside Park before returning to Jackson, where he continued his duties in patrol, traffic enforcement, and responding to calls for service as a Special Class II Officer.
Officer Kinlan comes from a family with deep roots in law enforcement. His father, James Kinlan, recently retired as a Sergeant First Class from the Ocean Township Police Department, and his mother, Captain Mary Nelson, is the first female captain in Jackson Police Department history.
Joining Kinlan is Officer Jonathan Pauciullo, badge #356. Born in Point Pleasant and a graduate of Toms River North High School, Pauciullo went on to earn his associate’s degree from Ocean County College and is currently completing his bachelor’s degree in public administration at Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Officer Pauciullo began his law enforcement career as a Class II Special Officer in Point Pleasant Beach, before moving on to serve full-time with the Pennington Borough Police Department and later the Hopewell Township Police Department. He brings a wealth of experience and specialized certifications to Jackson, including expertise in Defensive Tactics, Baton, and OC (oleoresin capsicum spray) instruction. He also previously served on the Mercer County Motor Vehicle Task Force, working alongside agencies such as the New Jersey State Police and the Trenton Police Department to combat vehicle theft.
An accomplished Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, Officer Pauciullo holds a brown belt and serves as an instructor at Nick Catone’s MMA in Brick, NJ. Outside his professional life, he is a proud husband and father of three daughters.
With the addition of Officers Kinlan and Pauciullo, the Jackson Township Police Department now boasts a force of 110 sworn officers.
