Lawrence Township Police Welcome New Officer and Celebrate Promotion of Veteran Detective to Sergeant

During Tuesday night’s Lawrence Township Council meeting, a new officer was sworn into the ranks of the township police department, and a veteran officer was promoted to the rank of sergeant.

Iwona Smith – a transfer from the Trenton Police Department – is the newest township officer and Joseph Lech IV the newest sergeant.

Smith was sworn in to office and welcomed to the township by Mayor Greg Puliti.

Smith joined the township police force on June 27, having transferred from Trenton, where she had been a police officer since January 2008. She received an academic excellence award while attending the Trenton Police Academy and earlier this year received a Trenton Police Department command citation.

In addition to bachelor’s and master’s degrees she earned in 1998 and 2000, respectively, Smith holds an associate’s degree in criminal justice that she earned in 2002. Born in Poland, she speaks Polish fluently and also is “efficient” in speaking Russian, Lawrence Township Police Chief Daniel Posluszny said as he introduced Smith to council.

“We welcome Iwona. I know she’s going to be a great asset to us, with our large Eastern European population. I know the first day she came here we had a letter that we couldn’t translate and Iwona translated it for us,” the chief said. “We welcome her and I hope she has a great career here in Lawrence Township.”

Smith lives in Lambertville with her husband and daughter.

Puliti next administered the oath of office to Lech, who was promoted from detective to sergeant last month.

A graduate of Notre Dame High School and The College of New Jersey, Lech graduated from the Trenton Police Academy in 1997. After serving as a patrol officer, he was assigned to the township’s detective bureau in 2001.

Over the years, he has received several awards and commendations – including a departmental meritorious service award in 2000 for apprehending a burglary suspect; a departmental commendable service award in 2001 for arresting an armed suspect; and another commendable service award in 2004 for taking a burglary suspect into custody.

“He’s attended numerous training classes – too many to name here,” Posluszny said. “And he’s received several complimentary letters for his knowledge, compassion and professional demeanor when serving the citizens of Lawrence Township. I want to congratulate Joe on his promotion to the rank of sergeant.”

Lech serves as the co-chair of the Mercer County Chapter of the Sunshine Foundation’s annual Dreamlift and for the past three years has taken part in the . He lives in Lawrence Township with his wife and three children – including a newborn son whose birth took place within days of his father’s promotion.

Among those in the crowd applauding his promotion was his father, Joseph Lech III, himself a retired Lawrence Township police sergeant.

“I just want to thank my family and all of my coworkers,” the new sergeant said, choking up for a moment as he looked out toward more than two dozen of his fellow officers who had turned out to celebrate his promotion and Smith’s appointment to the force. “I’ll do the best I can for this township, like I always do. I appreciate the opportunity and I’ll give you guys 150 percent. Thank you very much.”