DRBA Chiefs Of Police
Current Chief
COLONEL WAYNE E. MCFADDEN
Colonel; 2022 - Present
Colonel Wayne E. McFadden began as Police Administrator at the Delaware River and Bay Authority on October 23, 2022. Colonel McFadden has more than 26 years of law enforcement experience, with more than 18 of those years in supervisory, management or leadership positions. He began his law enforcement career with the City of Camden Police Department in April 1996. For 18 years, Mr. McFadden worked in the City of Camden and Camden County Police Departments, serving in a variety of roles including Executive Officer, Southern District Commander, Investigative Bureau Commander, and Training Unit Commander.
Colonel McFadden joined the DRBA Police Department in November 2014 as a Patrol Officer. He quickly rose through the ranks to serve as both a Sergeant and Lieutenant – with stints managing both the Delaware Memorial Bridge and Cape May Troop Operations. In October 2020, he was again promoted to the rank of Captain and carried out the duties of the Department’s Chief of Staff. Two years later, he was promoted to Lt. Colonel and served as the Deputy Police Administrator.
Mr. McFadden earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Administration of Justice from Thomas Edison State University and a Master of Administrative Science from Fairleigh Dickinson University. A U.S. Army Veteran, Mr. McFadden is a certified NJPTC Police Instructor, certified by both the Delaware Council on Police Training and the New Jersey Police Training Commission. He is also a graduate of the N.J. State Association of Chiefs of Police Command and Leadership Academy and the Penn State Justice and Safety Institute Leadership and Command Program.
Past CHiefs
COLONEL RICHARD H. ARROYO
Colonel; 2013 - 2022
Colonel Richard H. Arroyo began as Police Administrator at the Delaware River and Bay Authority on July 1, 2013. He began his law enforcement career as a municipal police officer in 1975 serving in Atlantic County, New Jersey. In 1982, he became a member of the 100th New Jersey State Police Class, graduating March 4, 1983, and was assigned to numerous Stations throughout South Jersey as a general road duty trooper.
Colonel Arroyo was then assigned to the NJSP Helicopter Unit where he was a pilot, performing flights that included, dignitary escorts, law enforcement and Medevac. Upon his return to a general road duty assignment, he was promoted as a squad leader and continued to rise through the ranks of the NJSP. During his career in the NJSP, Colonel Arroyo served as the squad leader for Troop "A" TEAMS, a Tactical Patrol supervisor, Troop "A" Traffic Officer, Operations Officer, Moorestown Station Commander, Field Operations Administrative Officer, Aviation Bureau Chief, Executive Officer of the Special Operations Section, Commanding Officer of the Emergency Management Section, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel, Deputy Superintendent of the Homeland Security Branch.
Upon retiring from the New Jersey State Police in 2008, Colonel Arroyo became the Police Director for the New Jersey State Park Police. Working in conjunction with the Department of Environmental Protection Administrators and the Union Officials, Colonel Arroyo was successful in accomplishing the initial goals set forth in his strategic plan which included a state of the art Computer-Aided-Dispatch system and 800 MHz system; a successful reaccreditation; a hiring process and vehicle replacement plan in place.
Colonel Arroyo earned his graduate degree in Administrative Science from Fairleigh Dickinson University. He is a graduate of Northwestern Staff and Command, and has attended numerous Leadership and Management courses throughout his career. He has topic specific training in HAZMAT, Counter-Terrorism, Weapons of Mass Destruction, Firearms Instructor/Range Master, Specialized Field Disciplines, ICS, COOP/COG and specialized Emergency Management training. Colonel Arroyo has also received numerous awards and commendations throughout his career. Colonel Arroyo served in the U.S. Navy, receiving an Honorable Discharge in 1974. He is currently an adjunct professor at Atlantic Cape Community College where he teaches Police Operations.
COLONEL JOSEPH BRYANT, JR.
Colonel; 2010 - 2013
Colonel Bryant began his law enforcement career as a police officer in 1976 with the New Castle County Police Department. During the next 23 years in the department, he quickly rose through the ranks. During his tenure, he managed nearly every major police unit in the department, including the Uniform Patrol Section, Drug Enforcement Unit, Community Service Unit, Internal Affairs Unit, K-9 Units, and Traffic Services Unit. Prior to retiring from New Castle County in 2000, he was promoted from Captain to Major in 1998, responsible for the Operational Section of the Department and the Human Resources Unit.
Colonel Bryant earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Delaware. He also received specialized professional training at the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia; the Senior Management Institute for Police Executives at Harvard Law School; and International Association of Chief of Police Seminars. Mr. Bryant has also served on the Board for the Delaware Police Chiefs' Foundation and the New Castle County Community Partnership. He was a member of the Delaware Police Chiefs' Council, Salem County (NJ) Police Chiefs' Council, and Cape May County (NJ) Police Chiefs' Council. He also serves as President of the Delaware Chapter of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives.
During his career, Colonel Bryant earned numerous awards and citations, including Delaware River and Bay Authority Police Officer of the Year; Chief's Citation Award; National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives' Officer of the Year Award; VFW Officer of the Year Award; Community Policing Award; six Departmental Commendations of Merit; and three Distinguished Unit Citations.
Colonel Bryant is an active member and Trustee Board member of Bethel AME Church in Wilmington; and the Wilmington Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. In 2013, Colonel Bryant accepted a position with the New Castle County Government as Director of Public Safety following 12 years of service with the Delaware River and Bay Authority Police.
COLONEL JOHN R. MCCARNAN
Colonel; 1993 - 2010
Colonel McCarnan began his law enforcement career as a patrol officer with the Wilmington (DE) Bureau of Police. After two (2) years of service with that department, he moved to the New Castle County (DE) Police Department where he served for twenty (20) years. Upon retirement from New Castle County, he served four and one half (4 ½) years in Delaware State Government, first as a Deputy Attorney General (Department of Justice) and then as Executive Director of the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Commencing on July 1, 1993, he served as the Police Administrator of the Delaware River and Bay Authority Police Department (DRBA-PD) for sixteen (16), years retiring on January 8, 2010.
Colonel McCarnan led the Delaware River & Bay Authority Police to initial accreditation in 1996. The DRBA-PD was re-accredited four times under Colonel McCarnan's leadership. He has also served as a CALEA assessment team leader and was recognized as a top assessor in February 2001. Under the command of Colonel McCarnan, the police force expanded it's responsibilities to include the economic development properties of Salem Business center, NCC, Cheswold, Millville, Cape May, Delaware Airpark Airports, and the Twin Forts Ferry operations.
Colonel McCarnan received a Bachelor of Science (Criminal Justice) from Wilmington University (New Castle, DE) and a Juris Doctor Degree from Widener University, School of Law (Wilmington, DE). He is also a graduate of the Southern Police Institute (University of Louisville). In addition, he has served as an adjunct professor (in Criminal Justice) at the University of Delaware and Wilmington University. His professional affiliations include the following: Delaware Bar Association, District of Columbia Bar, Pennsylvania Bar, American Bar Association, U.S. District Courts for Delaware and Pennsylvania, Life Member (Past Chairman) Delaware Police Chief's Council, Executive Board Member of the Delaware Safety Council, Member of the Delaware Police Chiefs' Foundation, and Past Chairman of PAL of Delaware. He also served (6) years in the Delaware Army National Guard. He is currently enjoying his retirement.
CHIEF LEONARD D. SZAFRANSKI
Chief; 1991 - 1992
Chief Leonard D. Szafranski was a veteran of the U.S. Navy (1953-1957) serving as a Communications Technician. He worked for Seaboard Steel as a welder and attended the Columbia Institute, Philadelphia, PA for Radio and TV (1958). Chief Szafranski joined the Delaware Memorial Bridge Police Department in January 1962, moving through the ranks until being promoted to Chief in August 1991. Chief Szafranski earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Wilmington College (1978). Chief Szafranski was the first police officer of the Delaware River and Bay Authority to graduate from the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy (FBINA), in 1986. Chief Szafranski retired from the Authority on December 31, 1992 after more then thirty (30), years of dedicated service. Following his retirement, Chief Szafranski fulfilled the role of Consultant to the police force until 1993.
Chief Szafranski is a member of the Delaware Police Chiefs Council, the Salem County Chiefs Association, and the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA). He is a past president of St. Hedwig's Parish Counsel, St Hedwig Home School Association, and Salesianum Alumni Association. He also served as Chairman/Co-Chairman of St. Hedwig's Polish Festival for 15 years. Chief Szafranski passed away in February 2015.
CHIEF SCOTT W. REES, JR.
Chief; 1962-1991
Chief Scott W. Rees Jr. was a veteran of WWII serving in the U.S. Navy and received an associate's degree in advertising from Goldey-Beacom College under the G.I. bill. In 1951, he started his law enforcement career as a police officer in New Castle City, DE. In 1952, Chief Rees started with the Delaware Memorial Bridge Police as a Patrolman and was quickly placed in charge at the rank of Sergeant. He was one of the original seven officers hired for the Delaware Memorial Bridge police force in 1952. He rose through the ranks as the DRBA's first Sergeant, first Lieutenant, first Captain, and only Chief of Police until he retired in 1991. Chief Rees served as commanding officer of the DRBA Police for twenty-nine (29), years. Under the command of Chief Rees, the police force expanded its responsibilities to a full-scale operation with Troops at the Delaware Memorial Bridge and the Cape May – Lewes Ferry.
Chief Rees attended Northwestern University in Michigan for traffic accident investigation. He was a lifetime member of the International Association of Chief's of Police, a member of the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association, the American Legion Stahl Post # 30, the Delaware Safety Council, the Southern New Jersey Chief's Association, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Police Chief's Association and helped found the Delaware Association of Chief's of Police, where he served as President. The Delaware Association of Chiefs of Police became the Delaware Police Chief's Council of which he was a life member. He also helped establish the Delaware Police Chief's Foundation. He was awarded the first life membership in that organization this past May. Chief Rees also established the DRBA Federal Credit Union and served as its president for many years. He was an honorary life member of the Holloway Terrace Fire Co. When Chief Rees retired from the Delaware River and Bay Authority in 1991 after a thirty-nine (39), year career, he had one of the longest Police service records in the country.
Chief Rees, Jr. passed away in May 2004, after a brief illness. He was 83 years old. Chief Rees was the son of former State Representative Scott W. Rees, Sr. and Carrie Anna Shaller.