Our DNA

In 2020, we began NW Precision Training with a simple mission: To equip the people who paid for our training—the taxpayers—with current, relevant, police firearms tactics to save their own lives. We believe the investment of training the taxpayers have provided for us should not die with us, but rather, be offered to the people that deserve it the most. You. Due to the uncertain times we live in, new gun ownership has risen unprecedentedly in the past few years. With the heavy responsibility of gun ownership is the responsibility of obtaining real firearms training from people whose lives depend on it every day. The training that you receive from us is not simply someone’s “theory” as to how training should be, but real, practical training that keeps our police alive every day. In short, if you’re not being trained by the people who rely on this training to return to their families at the end of each day, you’re not receiving the best, most relevant training available. We train for a warriorship mindset and live by the motto: When we’re not training law enforcement, we’re training you.

Meet the Pros

SHAWN TROTTER

Owner/ Instructor

Shawn Trotter is a native Oregonian and a father of 5 daughters. He is an active-duty police detective in the Eugene Police Department, where he has served as a firearms instructor since 2006. He has the honor of serving alongside and being trained by some of the best firearms instructors in law enforcement. Within his law enforcement career, he found value in equipping people with truth and knowledge to give them the skills needed to improve their lives by taking charge of their own safety. He views the world through the lens of self-reliance when true change through violence of action is called for. He is a principally driven man who believes in the concept that a society equipped with the knowledge of appropriate action is, in turn, a polite society.

SCOTT THOMAS

Lead Instructor

Scott enlisted in the US Navy straight out of Pleasant Hill High School, undergoing rigorous training at Naval Nuclear Power School before serving aboard the USS Tunny, SSN682, for three years. After instructing at the Naval Nuclear Power School for four years, he transitioned to a civilian nuclear plant for four years. Encouraged by a neighbor who was a respected Lane County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant, Scott pursued a career in law enforcement, joining the Eugene Police Department. During his seven years as a Patrol Officer, he also served as a Field Training Officer and Fatal Accident Investigator. Scott later became an Auto Theft Detective and competed in local shooting events while serving in detectives. Promoted to Sergeant, he managed EPD’s training division and served as the Range Master, overseeing firearms training for multiple agencies at Short Mountain Range. After retiring from EPD, Scott joined the national Insurance Crime Bureau as a Special Agent, focusing on organized crime and fraud investigations. He remains active in firearms shooting sports, including IDPA competitions, and has been an NW Precision Training Lead Instructor since 2021.

MELINDA MCLAUGHLIN

Instructor

Melinda has a 30-year background in personal protection spanning more than seven disciplines and including multiple weapons platforms. She served as a sworn deputy for more than 11 years on Lane County Sheriff’s Office patrol as a reserve, retiring in 2021. She is a former world-ranked motorsports racer and national magazine columnist. Melinda has 39 years of media and accredited public relations experience under her belt. Currently Melinda is Eugene Police Department’s public information director, where she has worked since 2006. She previously was the sole public information officer for Lane County and Benton County governments. With a background in broadcast journalism, Melinda has worked news media, public relations, advertising, intergovernmental relations, crisis communications, emergency communications, social media, professional sports, digital production, fundraising, and market research. Her career spans business, media, not-for-profits, professional sports, PR agency work, and government service. Melinda is a graduate of Ministry Training Institute. Melinda attended the University of Oregon’s Robert D. Clark Honors College, and graduated from the UO with a B.A. in Journalism in 1984. She was named a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow and Springfield-Twin Rivers Rotarian of the Year 1998-1999.

RACHEL TROTTER

Chief Operating Officer

Rachel grew up in Oregon and received a Bachelor’s degree from University of Oregon, followed by a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage & Family Therapy and a Certification in Child Play Therapy. She owned a private practice for two decades, specializing in the treatment of trauma in children, military veterans, law enforcement, and adult survivors of abuse, and also enjoyed working with individual adults and couples. She is passionate about empowering and equipping others, and believes that well behaved women don’t make history and should therefore be warriors. She is a strong example of overcoming victimization and became a fierce champion of this cause, supporting and facilitating others being overcomers as well. She is a mother of one son and five daughters. She took owner Shawn’s vision of utilizing the training tax payers provided for him as a law enforcement firearms instructor and paying it back to the public, thus creating NW Precision Training. When you call or email us, Rachel is who you will talk to. She handles all the behind-the-scenes and other operations related to running the family business.

DAN DUERFELDT

Lead Professional Staff “Black Hat” - Range Safety Officer

Dan….

HANNAH LYLE

Professional Staff “Black Hat” - Range Safety Officer

Hannah…

RON HARRIS

Professional Staff “Black Hat” - Range Safety Officer

Ron Harris is a native Californian that moved to Oregon with his beautiful wife Cindy and their son Cody in 2018. Daughter Analisa and 4 grandchildren are in California. He moved to Oregon for a change of pace and it’s beauty. He graduated from Modesto Jr. College Criminal Justice Training Center, graduate of Sacramento Regional training Center Field Training Officer program, attended Colombia Jr. College’s Emergency Medical Training Course, received diplomas from the International Academy of Emergency Fire and Medical Dispatch, and has a degree in Behavioral and Social Science. He worked for the Jackson Rancheria Tribal Police Dept. for 11 years on patrol as the department’s Senior Field Training Officer where he received 7 letters of commendation. He then worked with American Medical Response as a 911 call taker and later as a Level 1 Police Officer Reserve with Hughson Police Dept. Ron and Cindy manage a 55+ community and Ron is a special needs school bus driver. After watching a YouTube video of Rick Dancer taking a course and interviewing owner Shawn, he decided to take the 201: Intermediate Pistol course and it brought back memories of his high caliber training in law enforcement. He enjoyed the safety aspects and the straight to the point instruction. He then took the 301: Advanced Tactics course and successfully passed all qualifications, earning his Precision Professional black hat and making him an RSO where he helps other black hatters set the range up, helps students check their equipment in, and keeps everyone safe. He feels NWPT’s expertise is providing the same professional, safe training that current law enforcement officers get. The classes are taught by professionals passing on the warrior spirit and he aligns with that. In 2024 Ron also took the Urban Rifle course and recommends it to others.

RYAN BIGELOW

Professional Staff “Black Hat” - Range Safety Officer

Ryan…

CHRIS HUNSAKER

Professional Staff “Black Hat” - Range Safety Officer

Chris was born and raised in Oregon and is a true-blue American. He and his beautiful wife Devan have two kids; one son and one daughter. He has always enjoyed working on old cars and continues to do so in his spare time. During the week, he manages a local automotive shop. He has been a gun enthusiast all of his life and he and his wife have been training with NW Precision Training for four years. Devan took both the 101: Basic Pistol course and the 201: Intermediate Pistol course and felt safe in NWPT’s no-ego environment in either the classroom or at the shooting range. Chris started in the 201: Intermediate Pistol course and passed qualifications, which gave him an invitation to the 301 course. He successfully passed all qualifications of Pistol Craft 301: Advanced Tactics, earning his Precision Professional black hat. Since then, he enjoys being part of the NWPT family as one of their Black Hat Range Safety Officers (RSO). With other Black Hatters, he gets the opportunity to be involved in any course being taught, consistently folding back in to continue his training. With other Black Hatters, he helps set the shooting range up, demonstrate fundamentals and specific skills during courses, keeps students, staff, and Black Hatters safe, and enjoys being part of the training journey of students. The Black Hat team also runs drills and scenarios together, always seeking to improve and keep skills sharp, and he appreciates the ‘iron sharpens iron’ camaraderie this has created in the team. He feels that NW Precision Training’s top priorities are family and relationships and enjoys being a part of this unique family. He even brings his daughter along when he RSOs. Shawn and Rachel always give her plenty to do to help out and she enjoys benefiting them and spending time training with her dad. Chris strongly expresses that he feels it is a privilege to be part of something that he can put his name on with integrity and get behind in mutual support.