Toms River Police Lieutenant Ron Sermarini has retired following 25 years of dedicated service to the Toms River Police Department, concluding a distinguished law enforcement career marked by leadership, community involvement and service to fellow officers.

Sermarini, a lifelong Toms River resident, began his law enforcement career after graduating from the Ocean County Police Academy as a member of Class 76 in 2001. He joined the Toms River Police Department as a sworn officer that same year, fulfilling the opportunity to serve the community where he was born and raised.

Before entering law enforcement, Sermarini graduated from Toms River High School North, where he was a standout football and basketball player. As the Mariners’ starting quarterback, he helped lead the football team to a state championship in 1994. He later continued his football and academic career at McDaniel College, formerly Western Maryland College, in Westminster, Maryland, where he played quarterback and earned his bachelor’s degree.

Sermarini spent the first decade of his police career assigned to patrol, where he developed a reputation for proactive policing and served as a Field Training Officer for officers who would later become department leaders.

Throughout his career, he was heavily involved in community and charitable initiatives, including Vest-A-Cop, the Pros vs. Heroes flag football game, the TRPD Bicycle Rodeo, Toy Run Foundation motorcycle events and National Night Out. He also mentored young people interested in law enforcement through the Public Safety Cadet Program and served as a member of the department’s Motorcycle Unit, later supervising both programs.

In August 2012, Sermarini was promoted to Sergeant. During nearly a decade in that rank, he supervised several patrol squads before moving into administrative leadership roles, including Training Supervisor for the Professional Standards Unit and later Supervisor of the Community Affairs Division.

While overseeing Community Affairs, Sermarini supervised the department’s School Resource Officers and Class III Officers and was responsible for security at Town Hall and local parks.

He was promoted to Lieutenant in August 2021 and became the Midnight Shift Commander, overseeing five sergeants and 31 full-time police officers. He also served as a Command Staff Evaluator for promotional candidates.

During the final two years of his career, Sermarini returned to the Community Affairs Division, where he led outreach programs and served as the department’s public information officer and social media coordinator. His responsibilities also included oversight of department communications, jail operations, school safety programs and budget matters.

Sermarini also played a significant role representing fellow officers. He was elected Vice President of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 156 in 2016 and became President in 2019. The organization transitioned to PBA Local 137A in 2025. During his tenure, Sermarini represented more than 30 supervisory officers and successfully negotiated two collective bargaining agreements. He remained in the leadership role until March 2026.

Toms River PBA Local 137 and 137A congratulated Lieutenant Sermarini on his retirement, saying he will be greatly missed by members of both organizations and wishing him well in the next chapter of his life.