A discussion about whether or not to allow Police Sgt. Greg Nichols to attend a special training class in order to become a Certified Tactical Rifle Officer took place during the February Conneaut Lake Regional Police Commission meeting.

The department received some information about this at some point between the January and February meetings. Nichols was pressed for time but did quite a bit of investigating in terms of where certification could be obtained, the costs involved and the time that would go into it.

He found a class in Michigan with 8 days of training but 11 days on site, so to speak. He crunched all numbers for this particular class and including the rifle, it would come to approximately $6,200.

A brief definition of a Tactical Rifle Officer is one who receives specialized training in order to handle a rifle.

According to a retired police officer who was asked via telephone after the meeting, officers are trained in the use of handguns, of course, but this is a different ball game.

Being removed from my work desk, away from my home and halfway around the world from Conneautville for two weeks made me appreciate computers and internet access in a new light. During that time, I was able to communicate with my workplace about a lock needing replaced, check the balance in my checking account because I was unsure about the exchange rate of the dollar vs. the euro and I sent photographs to be developed to my Walmart account.