The Executive & Advisory Boards of the Rhode Island Tactical Officers Association (RITOA) consists of active, and retired law enforcement personnel.

Executive Board

Insp. Chris Mathiesen, President
Insp. Mathiesen is a veteran of the Warwick PD and was instrumental in the formation of the Warwick PD SWAT Team, the first in the State of Rhode Island. He is Warwick’s SWAT Team Commander and a former member of the RI State Bomb Squad.

Sgt. Paul Brandley, Vice President
Pawtucket Police Department’s Special Response Team Leader, Training Officer, and tactical operations expert.

Linda Mathiesen, Secretary/Treasurer
Has many years of experience in computer and clerical support, and is actively involved in the law enforcement community.

Officer David Delbonis, Training Coordinator
A veteran of the Warwick PD, is the SWAT Team Training Coordinator. He is a certified Firearms Instructor, and an expert in Officer Survival. He is a Training Officer, Range Officer, and an Advanced Physical Fitness Specialist.

Advisory Board

Captain David Ricciarelli
Coordinator of Instruction and Testing for the RI Municipal Police Academy. He served 8 years with the Cumberland, RI Police Department prior to his current postion at the RIMPA. He is a self-defense instructor and well versed in all aspects of law enforcement, including tactical operations.

Captain Richard G. Silva
A veteran of the West Warwick Police Department and it’s SWAT Team Leader. Captain Silva is also the Training Coordinator for the West Warwick SWAT Team and an experienced Range Officer who specializes in the MP5 Submachine Gun.

Captain James Swanberg
A veteran of the RI State Police and is the RI State Police SWAT Team Leader. He is an instructor at the RI State Police Training Academy, and is a noted expert in the law enforcement tactical field.

Lt. Lareto Guglietta
The Commanding Officer of Burrillville’s Special Response Team. The Lt. is a Certified Training and Range Officer and is an expert in SWAT tactics, Narcotics, and Hostage Negotiation.

Sgt. Robert Boehm
A veteran of the Providence PD and is an expert in SWAT tactics, Self-defense (holding a black belt in AIKIDO), Non-lethal Weapons, Bomb Disposal, Officer Survival, Explosive Breaching, and Narcotics. He is also a Training and Range Officer and a member of the RI State Bomb Squad.

Officer Dale Drowne
A veteran of the Warwick Police Department, and a WPD SWAT Team member who specializes in defensive tactics and suspect restraint. He is the training coordinator for the WPD Underwater Search and Recovery Team, a Range Officer, and Use of Force instructor. Officer Drowne currently holds a third degree black belt in the Okinawan Karate System.