The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | Summer 2025
NJSACOP Chief Psychologist Wins Statewide Award for His Service to New Jersey’ s Police Chiefs
By Jonathan Jaffe, NJSACOP Public Information Officer
There is one special award reserved each year at the discretion of the outgoing president of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police( NJSACOP). John Russo, the NJSACOP president who completed his term on June 30, bestowed the ― 2025 Raymond Hayducka Award ‖ upon his longtime friend and colleague, Dr. Lew Schlosser, who is the association’ s Chief Psychologist.
― This award is in recognition of Dr. Schlosser’ s unwavering support of law enforcement and his dedication and innovative approach to the NJSACOP’ s Wellness Committee,‖ said Chief Russo, who leads the committee. ― Dr. Schlosser’ s support, friendship and desire to help others has helped make my presidency more productive and meaningful.‖
Dr. Schlosser is the managing partner at the Institute for Forensic Psychology in Oakland. He has conducted more than 20,000 police and public safety psychological evaluations, including pre-employment and fitness for duty evaluations.
Lew provides training to police personnel on topics related to officer mental health, with special expertise in fitness for duty and officer wellness. Dr. Schlosser routinely discusses the importance of mental health among New Jersey’ s law enforcement and his services to ensure chiefs are both productive and happy in their very important work.
Dr. Schlosser and Chief Russo are frequent guests on the NJSACOP podcast, ― ChiefTalk.‖ They talk about the work of the Wellness Committee and the important mental health resources available to police chiefs who face a stressful 24 / 7 job. You can hear them here. Dr. Schlosser was the very first guest on the podcast in 2023; that episode is here.
The award— formerly the ― President’ s Award ‖- was renamed in 2023 in honor of another past president, South Brunswick Police Chief Raymond Hayducka, in recognition of his years of outstanding service to the association, his fellow chiefs, and the police profession. Chief Hayducka served as NJSACOP president from 2012-2013.
The Hayducka Award is given annually by the outgoing president to anyone of their choosing in recognition of the individual’ s advice and assistance during the term in office.
21