MD (NJ #25MA09655600)

Dr. Derek Berberian is a board-certified psychiatrist and neurologist. He treats aneuropsychiatric conditions, including mood and anxiety disorders, PTSD, OCD,ADHD, post-concussive syndrome, traumatic brain injury, autism spectrum disorder,cognitive impairment, dementia, binge eating disorder, and addiction. He specializesin the care of law enforcement and first responders, addressing the uniquechallenges of high-stress professions. His integrative approach combinespsychotherapy, neurofeedback, biofeedback, and precise medication management.His practice also offers outpatient bariatric screening, EEG evaluations, weight-lossmanagement, and smoking-cessation support.

Board Certified in Police and Public Safety Psychology
Diplomate in Police Psychology – SPCP
NJ #5288 / NY #020326

Dr. Anastasia Pytal is a licensed psychologist and former law enforcement officer. Her area of professional interest and expertise is working with police officers and their loved ones on issues pertaining to trauma, depression, anxiety, and officer wellness. She provides trainings for local, county and federal law enforcement agencies. She is trained to perform Psychological Autopsies. Dr. Pytal received her Hostage Negotiation Certification in 2022.

LPC (NJ #37PC00935800)

Mary Jose is a Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in trauma, ADHD, and the unique mental health challenges faced by law enforcement officers. Mary offers a client-centered, solution-focused approach that integrates evidence-based modalities such as EMDR, ART, CBT, REBT, and Ego State Therapy. She is dedicated to creating a stigma-free, confidential space where officers can address their mental health needs without fear of judgment. Her practice is rooted in compassion, safety, and inclusivity, ensuring that each client feels heard and empowered.

LMFT (NJ #37FI00192000)

Samantha Cordero is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 12
years of experience helping individuals, couples, and families navigate relationship challenges, communication issues, and everyday life stressors. She holds a Master’s in Psychology and a Professional Diploma in Marriage and Family Therapy from Kean University and is Gottman Level I trained. Samantha takes a collaborative approach, creating a safe and supportive environment to help clients develop the skills for lasting growth and healthier relationships.

Licensed Professional Counselor
Certified First Responder Counselor
LPC (NJ #37PC00609200)

Ana Pais is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified First Responder Counselor, certified in EMDR and trained in Somatic Experiencing. She got her start working in halfway houses, state prisons, and county jails. In her practice, she treats first responders and/or family members. Her areas of specialty include trauma, depression, anxiety, adverse life events, occupational stress injuries, and substance abuse. She is also available for speaking engagements on officer mental health/suicide prevention.

Licensed Clinical Social Worker
LCSW (NJ #44SC05392700)

Larissa Brewster is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who helps clients understand and navigate their mental health. Throughout her career, she has developed a trauma track in an adult partial care program, led a countywide victim response, taught at Rutgers, and contributed to the Encyclopedia of Sexual Violence. Her expertise includes neurodivergent learning, complex trauma resiliency, and recovery for individuals, their
partners, and families. She focuses on professional mental health and individual resiliency in relation to law enforcement and first responder stressors.

APN (NJ #26NJ01345600)

Esther Kuffour is a board-certified psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner in New Jersey. She specializes in treating First Responders and clients across the lifespan with various mental health, substance use, trauma, and behavioral issues. She is passionate about her work and treats clients with respect and dignity. Esther uses an evidence-based, culturally sensitive, and client-centered approach with her clients. She listens to the individual’s needs and works with them to create a personalized care plan that addresses their needs more effectively.

Father John McCrone has served as chaplain for the New Jersey State PBA for over 25 years, including the peer support network since its inception.

Serving as a chaplain involves providing spiritual and emotional support to officers, staff, and their families. This role includes offering counseling, leading prayer and worship services, and being present during critical incidents to offer comfort and guidance.

In addition, a chaplain helps officers navigate the stress and trauma associated with their duties, promoting mental health and resilience. By fostering a sense of community and offering a compassionate presence, the chaplain supports the well-being of law enforcement personnel, helping them to maintain their integrity, morale, and overall sense of purpose in their challenging roles.

A spiritual component of recovery is essential for law enforcement officers healing from trauma, as it provides a foundation for emotional and psychological resilience.

Spirituality can offer a sense of peace and understanding, helping officers process their experiences and find meaning in the aftermath of traumatic events. Engaging in spiritual practices, such as prayer, meditation, or connecting with a faith community, can create a supportive environment where officers feel understood and less isolated. This spiritual engagement fosters hope, forgiveness, and acceptance, which are critical for overcoming the emotional scars of trauma.

Ultimately, the spiritual component of recovery can empower law enforcement officers to rebuild their lives with renewed purpose and strength.

He is available to a member of the PBA at any time and can be reached at 201-707-2678 or at jmccrone@aol.com.

Rev. Donald A. Bragg is the Pastor of Parsippany Presbyterian Church, a historic congregation with roots dating back to pre-Revolutionary New Jersey. The church continues to be a strong and welcoming community of faith, dedicated to maintaining its longstanding commitment to service and ministry.

Rev. Bragg has served as an emergency services and police chaplain in Parsippany since 2001. He is a member of the International Conference of Police Chaplains and holds their Master level of training. With more than two decades of service alongside local first responders—including time as an EMT, involvement in the fire service, and ongoing support to the police department—Rev. Bragg has developed a deep appreciation and commitment to those who serve their communities in these demanding roles.

Disaster preparedness, recovery, and resilience have also been central to Rev. Bragg’s ministry. He has organized and led response efforts to some of the hardest-hit areas across the country, including three years of recovery work in Parsippany following Hurricane Irene. His work focuses on supporting individuals and communities during times of crisis while helping them rebuild and move forward.

Outside of ministry, Rev. Bragg enjoys spending time outdoors in the woods or garden and practices beekeeping. He is also a musician, primarily playing guitar, and enjoys woodworking, a pastime passed down through his family. An avid reader of history, military history, theology, and philosophy, he values lifelong learning. Rev. Bragg has been married to his wife Ann for more than 40 years, and their two sons are grown and living on their own.

He considers it a privilege to serve the officers of the PBA and is available for spiritual support and guidance. Rev. Bragg can be reached at 201-317-3661 or dabragg@pc.org.

Deacon Benjamin Zuzzio is a combat veteran of the United States Marine Corps who served as an Infantry Squad Leader during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Following his honorable military service, he transitioned into law enforcement in 2005 and has served his department in a variety of assignments. During his first seven years in patrol, he was recognized as Officer of the Year in 2011 and continues to serve as a member of the department’s Honor Guard.

In 2012, Ben was selected to serve in his department’s Anti-Crime Unit, where he worked for seven years before being assigned as a Detective in the Major Crimes Unit in 2019. For more than 13 years, he has also served on his department’s SWAT team as a breacher and holds multiple instructor certifications, including Firearms, Service Rifle, SubGun, Distraction Device, Chemical Munitions, ASP, and Less Lethal Munitions.

Ben is deeply committed to strengthening relationships between law enforcement and the community. He currently serves as “Officer Friendly,” teaching kindergarten, fourth, and sixth grade students and helping build positive connections between officers and young people. He also serves as a Resiliency Police Officer, providing peer and spiritual support to fellow officers navigating the stresses and challenges of the profession.

In addition to his law enforcement career, Ben has pursued a calling to Christian ministry. He completed a Christian Ministry program through Liberty University in 2020 and graduated in 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in Religion, majoring in Apologetics. He currently serves as a Deacon at Fountain of Life in Florence, New Jersey, where he has been active in youth ministry and prison ministry. He has also completed certification programs as a Funeral Officiant and Wedding Officiant through the Christian Leaders Institute.

Ben has received Ecclesiastical Endorsement through the Assemblies of God and is nearing eligibility for ordination. He is preparing to begin a Master of Divinity program at Liberty University with the goal of serving as a VA Chaplain upon retirement from law enforcement.

He is available to members of the PBA for spiritual support and guidance and can be reached at 609-977-2462 or ben425@msn.com

Rev. Barry Vazquez is a Licensed and Ordained Minister and the Founder, President, and Senior Pastor of Living By Grace Fellowship, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization where he has faithfully served for more than 20 years. A veteran of the United States Army, Rev. Vazquez served during Operation Desert Storm in the Persian Gulf as part of the 24th Military Intelligence Battalion from 1989 to 1997, earning numerous honors and commendations for his service.

Rev. Vazquez holds a Bachelor of Science in Law and Justice from The College of New Jersey with a minor in Spanish. He also received a Master of Divinity and an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Woodbridge Christian University of Virginia and has completed advanced ministerial training through several faith-based institutions. In addition to his pastoral leadership, he is a national and international conference speaker on Biblical studies, having ministered throughout Central and South America and parts of Africa.

Deeply committed to serving both the community and law enforcement, Rev. Vazquez currently serves as Senior Chaplain for the Trenton Police Department, a Chaplain with the New Jersey State Police, and Lead Chaplain for Mercer County. He is actively involved in numerous community initiatives and organizations, including the Capitol City Community Coalition and the Latino Pastors of Greater Trenton, where he serves as Vice President. His work regularly includes community outreach programs, faith-based initiatives, and crisis response efforts.

Rev. Vazquez also holds several professional certifications, including Basic and Advanced Certification in Police Chaplaincy, Individual and Group Crisis Intervention through ICISF, Preventing Targeted Violence certification through the Global Peace Foundation, and the Comprehensive Officer Resilience Train-the-Trainer Program through the FBI National Academy. He is also a certified coach, teacher, and speaker with the John Maxwell Team and holds a Security Officer Registration Act (SORA) license.

He remains deeply devoted to his faith, his family, and his calling to serve others. Rev. Vazquez has been married to his wife for more than 30 years and is the proud father of two children, including his eldest who is in heaven.

He is available to members of the PBA for spiritual support and guidance and can be reached at 609-209-5457 or revbarryvazquez@gmail.com.

Father William John Peter Lago was born on May 13, 1965, in The Bronx, New York, and relocated to Ocean Township, New Jersey, at the age of three. He is the second of three children and comes from a family dedicated to public service—his father was a sheet metal mechanic for the Department of Defense, and his mother also worked for the government.

He attended Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church and Grammar School in Asbury Park, graduated from Ocean Township High School, and earned a B.S. in Biochemistry from Rutgers University in 1987, followed by an M.S. in Agronomy from Purdue University in 1991. After working in the biotech industry, he began his preparation for the priesthood at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, earning a Master of Divinity and an M.A. in Theology with a specialization in Pastoral Theology. He was ordained in 1999.

Father Lago has ministered primarily in Monmouth and Mercer Counties, serving in parishes, grammar schools, high schools, colleges, hospitals, and providing pastoral care in prison and psychiatric settings. He currently serves as chaplain to the Manasquan PBA #284, the Manasquan Fire Department, and Jersey Shore NYPD 1013, while also providing pastoral counseling and spiritual support to law enforcement and military personnel who reach out personally.

He is available to PBA members for spiritual guidance and support and can be reached at 732-500-7036 or wlago@dioceseoftrenton.org

Reverend Robert Clark is the Lead Pastor of Living Water Community Church of the Christian and Missionary Alliance in Ocean Gate, New Jersey. Over the past 12+ years, he has served as a police chaplain in Berkeley and Manchester Townships, providing spiritual guidance and support to law enforcement personnel.

In addition to his local chaplaincies, Reverend Clark serves in Ocean County as a Chaplain with the TLC and the DRCC, assisting officers and first responders during critical incidents and offering ongoing pastoral care. His work emphasizes emotional resilience, spiritual support, and community engagement for law enforcement professionals.

He is available to members of the PBA for guidance and support and can be reached at 732-598-9798 or robertclarksr@gmail.com

Deacon Nathan Davis is a veteran juvenile law enforcement officer with more than 17 years of dedicated service to the City of Trenton, New Jersey. As a Juvenile Officer with the Trenton Police Department, he works closely with youth, families, schools, and community organizations to investigate juvenile matters, provide crisis intervention, and guide young people toward safer and more positive life choices. His work emphasizes building strong community relationships, conflict resolution, and using de-escalation strategies to promote safety and accountability.

In addition to his law enforcement career, Nathan serves as President of the Trenton Police Department Chaplain Program, where he provides spiritual support, counseling, and wellness resources to officers, first responders, and members of the community. His chaplaincy work focuses on compassion, encouragement, and faith-based outreach while strengthening the relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve.

Nathan also serves as a licensed Armed Security Officer and has received professional training in crisis prevention, targeted violence prevention, firearm safety, and juvenile justice practices. His work reflects a continued commitment to public safety, leadership, and service.

He is currently furthering his theological education through the Certificate Program in Theological Studies at New Brunswick Theological Seminary. Through both his professional and ministry work, he remains dedicated to helping others navigate difficult circumstances with wisdom, integrity, and faith.

He is available to members of the PBA for spiritual support and guidance and can be reached at 609-802-6496 or nategreat2468@yahoo.com

Rabbi Moshe Carlebach, a native of Ocean Township, New Jersey, has served as the Rabbi for Chabad of Greater Monmouth County for over 10 years. Under his leadership, the community has flourished, bringing together hundreds of families through religious gatherings, social events, and educational programs that strengthen faith and connection.

In addition to his role as a community leader, Rabbi Carlebach serves as a chaplain at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where he provides comfort and spiritual care to those in times of need. He is deeply committed to supporting the law enforcement community, believing that those who protect others deserve a place to turn for guidance, strength, and understanding.

Guided by the principle of being a “Lamp Lighter,” Rabbi Carlebach strives to bring light, hope, and encouragement to those facing difficult circumstances. His work focuses on addressing the moral, spiritual, and emotional challenges experienced by law enforcement professionals while fostering resilience and a sense of purpose.

He is available to members of the PBA for spiritual support and guidance and can be reached at 732-433-0800 or Rabbim@chabadgmc.com

Father Michael C. Barone is a priest of the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey, ordained in May 2008. He holds master’s degrees in Theology and Divinity from Seton Hall University and Mount Saint Mary Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland, respectively, and also earned a master’s degree in Archives and Public History from New York University. Father Barone has served as Chaplain for the Bergen County Conference of the PBA since 2016, maintaining a frequent presence at meetings, events, and conventions.

He is currently assigned as Chaplain for the Office of Catholic Cemeteries, based out of Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington, where he regularly employs his skills as a Certified Bereavement Facilitator. Father Barone also serves as a committee chairman for the Catholic Cemeteries Conference, lecturing annually at the CCC School of Leadership and Management Excellence at Notre Dame University.

His past ministry experience includes serving as a parish priest in Bergen, Hudson, and Union Counties, as well as hospital chaplaincy in Essex and Union Counties. Father Barone provides spiritual and emotional support to PBA members and is available at 201-306-8889 or rev.michael.barone@rcan.org.

Father Jim Chern currently serves as the Director of the Newman Center and Catholic Chaplain at Montclair State University, a role he has held since 2007. In 2017, he was appointed by Cardinal Tobin as Director of the Office of Campus Ministry for the Archdiocese of Newark. He also serves as an adjunct spiritual director to seminarians in formation for the priesthood at Immaculate Conception Seminary, Seton Hall University, and was a co-host on Sirius/XM Satellite Radio’s “The Catholic Guy Show” from 2007 to 2019.

Father Chern was ordained in 1999 for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark after earning his Master of Divinity from Seton Hall University and a Bachelor’s degree from DeSales University in 1995. Following ordination, he served as Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in West Orange until 2006 and has since served as a chaplain for the West Orange Fire Department, West Orange Police Department, and Montclair State University Police Department.

Born and raised in Clark, New Jersey, Father Chern is the youngest of three sons of JoAnn and George Chern. He provides spiritual and emotional support to PBA members and can be reached at 212-203-5008 or chernjam@comcast.net

Rabbi Menachem (Mendy) Carlebach received his rabbinic education at the Rabbinical College of Oholei Torah in Brooklyn, New York, and continued advanced studies at Chabad institutions in France, Israel, and Canada, gaining a broad international perspective on Jewish scholarship and leadership. He was ordained by the Rabbinical College of Australia and, early in his career, was selected to serve in Sydney as a Youth Director, where he led weekly programming for approximately 500 children. In 2000, he was appointed Chaplain for the Sydney Olympic and Paralympic Games, providing spiritual support to athletes and attendees from around the world.

Since 2003, Rabbi Carlebach has served as Executive Director of the Chabad House of North and South Brunswick, where he has developed and led a wide range of educational and experiential programs. He also serves as Administrator of Chabad House-Lubavitch Inc., continuing to expand outreach efforts and strengthen community engagement. In 2010, he was appointed by Governor Chris Christie to the New Jersey-Israel Commission, helping to foster meaningful connections between New Jersey and Israel.

Rabbi Carlebach has an extensive background in chaplaincy and public service. His roles have included serving as a Visiting Chaplain for the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office, Jewish Chaplain at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City, Chaplain for the Port Authority Police Department and South Brunswick Police Department, and Chaplain at the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Facility. Through these roles, he has provided spiritual guidance, counseling, and support to law enforcement personnel and those facing difficult circumstances.

He is available to members of the PBA for spiritual support and guidance and can be reached at 732-522-5505 or rabbimendy@chabadnj.org

Dorothy Novitskie is an experienced clinical and forensic psychologist with extensive experience serving law enforcement personnel, correctional populations, and individuals in inpatient and outpatient mental health settings. Her clinical and forensic work includes psychological assessments, crisis intervention, supervision, and specialized evaluations for corrections and law enforcement officers, with a focus on critical incident stress and long-term trauma exposure. She is recognized for delivering comprehensive, ethical, and client-centered care utilizing evidence-based and modern assessment practices.

Dr. Novitskie holds advanced certifications in Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) and as a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional Level II (CCTP-II), reflecting her expertise in complex trauma treatment. In addition to her clinical practice, she has an extensive academic background, having taught more than 70 undergraduate and graduate courses in both adjunct and full-time faculty roles. She developed a Theory of Personality course for Fairleigh Dickinson University, which she continues to teach remotely for the university’s satellite campus in China.

She also serves as a guest lecturer and trainer on topics including trauma, sexual abuse, suicide prevention, and mental illness. Across her clinical, forensic, and academic roles, Dr. Novitskie brings a high level of professionalism, depth of expertise, and a strong commitment to ethical, evidence-based practice.