The Instructors
Who We Are
SGT Daniel "Zeke" Mathena - ret.
Founder
[ NRA Certified Training Counselor ]
Certifications include the Connecticut Police Academy as; Police Firearms Instructor (since 1984), Shooting Decision Making, Less-lethal Munitions, SWAT Tactics (building/room clearing/searching, crowd control) additional certifications in the following:
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Smith & Wesson Academy, Springfield, Massachusetts – Armorer’s School
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Colt Firearms, West Hartford, Connecticut – Armorer’s School
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Beretta Firearms, Accokeek, Maryland – Armorer’s School
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Glock Firearms, Smyrna, Georgia – Armorer’s School
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Advanced Tactical Training in Hostage Rescue and Drug Raid Operations
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Certified State of Connecticut “Blue Card” Instructor for Armed Security Officers
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Certified State of Connecticut “Gold Card” Instructor for Bail Enforcement Agents
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Interstate Police Officers’ Association
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Certified Patrol K-9 Handler
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Certified Police Weapons Armorer
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Certified Police PR-24 Baton Instructor
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Certified Police Counter-Sniper
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Certified Scenario-Based Training & Simunitions Instructor
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Certified Less-Lethal Munitions Instructor (12ga. & 37mm delivery systems)
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Certified Instructor in Center-Axis-Relock (C.A.R.) tactical pistol
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FAA Licensed Helicopter Pilot
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Airborne Law Enforcement Association
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NRA Certified Chief Range Safety Officer
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NRA Certified Pistol Instructor
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NRA Certified Rifle Instructor
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NRA Training Counselor
Steve Weisher
[ NRA Certified Pistol Instructor, NRA Certified Range Safety Officer ]
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Twenty-eight years of public safety experience.
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Former Police Chief
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Graduate, FBI National Academy
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Graduate, New England Institute of Law Enforcement Management
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Executive Command, Regional Emergency Services Team
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Critical Incident Management Certification
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Certified Police Academy Instructor:
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Criminal Investigation and Reporting
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Crime Scene Management
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Public Safety Ethics
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Member, International Association of Chiefs of Police
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Member, FBI National Academy Associates
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Certified NRA Range Safety Officer
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Certified NRA Pistol Instructor
Jeff Mathena
[ Former Marine ]
[ NRA Certified Pistol & Rifle Instructor, NRA Certified Chief Range Safety Officer ]
Jeff is a former United States Marine. He served as an infantryman (0311) in Company C, 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, he carried the M-60 machine gun (7.62mm) and later the M249 SAW light machine gun (5.56mm). Maintained Expert Rifle qualification in marksmanship with the M16A2 (5.56mm).
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Marine Corps Recruit Depot – Parris Island, SC
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Marine Combat Training – Camp Geiger, NC
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Advanced School of Infantry – Camp Lejeune, NC
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Combined Arms Exercise (CAX) – Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC), Twentynine Palms, CA
​The Marine Corps' most advanced live-fire unit-level combined arms training program for ground and air fire support with maneuvers at the tactical level. -
NRA Certified Chief Range Safety Officer
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NRA Certified Pistol Instructor
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NRA Certified Rifle Instructor
Steve Chastain
[ NRA Certified Pistol Instructor, NRA Certified Range Safety Officer ]
Captain Steve Chastain is a retired Indiana State Police Trooper with over 26 years in law enforcement.
Steve served as a Road Trooper, Criminal Investigator, Sergeant, First Sergeant and eventually Captain, retiring as Commander over the South Operations for the ISP.
Steve served as a member of the ISP Emergency Response Team (SWAT) member as a Sniper and Entry Team Leader, as well as a Firearms Instructor for the ERT, Indiana State Police Academy, Indiana Law Enforcement Academy and Field District Instructor.
He has Law Enforcement Training certifications in:
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Tactical Weapons and Maintenance including Sniper certification.
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Emergency Response Tactics and Critical Incident Management.
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Homicide Investigation, Arson and Hazardous Materials.
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Accident Reconstruction and Traffic Enforcement.
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Bachelor Of Science degree in Criminology.
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Certified NRA Range Safety Officer.
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Certified NRA Rifle Instructor.
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​ Certified NRA Pistol Instructor
Karen Weisher
[ NRA Certified Pistol Instructor, NRA Certified Range Safety Officer ]
Karen has been a great addition to our training staff. She has long been involved in crafts such as scrapbooking and gardening but then she got gun-fever and her thirst for knowledge and experience exploded. Many women are apprehensive about guns and often feel it's more of a "Guy Thing". Nothing could be further from the truth and Karen 's experience and training helps her make that connection. We get many compliments on her from both men and women alike.
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NRA Certified Range Safety Officer
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NRA Certified Pistol Instructor