Photo submitted to Times Observer Warren County Adult Probation Officer Mike Walters (second from right) has earned Master Instructor status from the Pennsylvania Firearms Education and Training Commission (FETC). Pictured (from left) are firearms instructors: Joe McLaughlin (FETC), Monroe County Juvenile Probation Officer Brian Holley, Columbia County Probation Officer Venessa Adler, and Warren County Adult Probation officers Shane Kelly, Fran Hanlin, and Walters, and Ian Rowles (FETC).

Warren County Adult Probation has a new master firearms instructor and a new deputy chief.

Mike Walters recently earned master firearms instructor status through the Firearms Education Training Commission (FETC).

He has also been promoted to deputy chief.

“Walters first became a Firearms Instructor in June 2015 after completing the rigorous, week-long training course in Palmyra,” Officer Shane Kelly said in a release. “Walters went on to teach both classroom and instruct range drills for basic training academies for the FETC.”

“These basic training academies include newly hired probation and parole officers in the state of Pennsylvania,” Kelly said. “Walters was recently evaluated for his Master Instructor status both in the classroom from April 1 through 5 and was instructing as Range Master for the 95th Basic Training Academy class from April 8 through 12 at the Palmyra Law Enforcement Range.”

“To become a Master Instructor for the Pennsylvania Firearms Education and Training Commission, somebody has to be a Certified Firearms Instructor,” Ian Rowles of FETC said. “Once they have been a CFI for 36 months, they are eligible to go for the Master Instructor status.”

The prospective Master Instructor has to run a Basic Training Academy, being reviewed by a current Master Instructor over that two-week course, he said.

In two years as Range Master, Walters’ students have a 100 percent success passing rate with an average score of 280 out of 300, Kelly said.