Meet our instructors

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Det. Dan Ticali (Ret.)
Dan Ticali is a highly accomplished 24-year veteran of law enforcement, having served with distinction in the NYPD since 2001 as part of the 911 class. Throughout his career, Dan held various roles, including anti-crime officer, street narcotics officer, patrol officer, and detective. He joined the Narcotics Division in 2003, where he was involved in over one thousand arrests and was involved in the execution of more than two thousand high-risk search warrants. In recognition of his exceptional performance, Dan was promoted to Detective in 2006 and earned a second discretionary promotion to Detective 2nd Grade in 2012—a prestigious rank held by only 500 officers out of 35,000 in the department.

Dan was a key member of the major case narcotics team and contributed to a federal task force focused on high-level narcotics interdiction. In 2013, he was selected to join the Federal HIDTA/tactical training unit, where he was responsible for tactical and in-service training for the entire NYPD Detective Bureau. As a New York State certified firearms instructor for both pistol and rifle, Dan is recognized for his expertise in law enforcement tactics. He is also a martial artist with a Fifth Degree Black Belt (Master) in Goju Ryu Karate, as well as a First-Degree Black Belt in Tae-Kwon-Do and Judo.

Dan retired in good standing from the NYPD in March 2024 and continues to refine his craft as a law enforcement tactician, sharing his vast experience and knowledge with others in the industry.

Det. Liam Swords (Ret.)
Liam Swords is a retired detective in good standing from the NYPD with over 25 years of dedicated service to law enforcement. He began his career in public service as an infantryman in the United States Army before transitioning to law enforcement to continue serving his community. After graduating from the police academy in 1998, Liam was assigned to a police service area in Brooklyn, where he spent nearly a decade performing patrol and anti-crime duties. His exemplary performance led to his promotion to the Detective Bureau Gang Division, where he worked in both Brooklyn North and Queens, conducting investigations into numerous gangs and participating in hundreds of high-risk warrants.

In 2011, Liam was awarded the prestigious Combat Cross, the NYPD’s second-highest honor for his involvement in an officer-involved shooting. In 2013, he was assigned to the HIDTA/OCCB Tactical Training Unit, where he transitioned into an instructor role. Over the years, Liam and his team developed groundbreaking training programs, ranging from tactical medicine and implementing of the vehicular close quarters battle (which is still used by his host agency today), to improving the execution of search warrant techniques. A committed lifelong learner, Liam continues to expand his expertise, attending training on a variety of topics including breaching entryways, ballistic shields, and other specialized areas. Even in retirement, he remains active in law enforcement training, continuously updating his knowledge to stay at the forefront of the industry.

Detective Charles Walsh is a seasoned law enforcement professional with a wealth of experience in some of policing's most critical areas. Serving as an active-duty detective with a major East Coast department, he has investigated everything from homicides to robberies, building solid cases that bring criminals to justice. A specialist in custodial interviews and interrogations, Detective Walsh has also worked in the Counterterrorism Bureau and now serves in the Detective Bureau’s Tactical Training Unit, training 6,000 to 8,000 officers annually in search warrant tactics, breaching, and tactical procedures.

In addition to his instructional duties, Detective Walsh is a certified explosive handler and breacher, a post-blast investigator with the FBI, and an active NYPD Hostage Negotiator. His expertise also includes low-light tactics, structure clearing, and tactical medical response. As a Glock Armorer and a member of the International Association of Arson Investigators, he brings unparalleled knowledge to every training session.

Outside of work, Detective Walsh is a devoted husband and father, with law enforcement running deep in his family’s legacy. His wife, a crime scene investigator, shares his passion for justice, and together, they are raising their children with a strong sense of duty. Detective Walsh’s dedication to both law enforcement and training continues to leave a lasting impact on his colleagues and the community. 

Dr. Lorenzo Paladino Bio to be announced.