David Veselenak

hometownlife.com

During the height of the Great Recession wasn’t a typical time for a business to see expansion. But that’s exactly what Canton resident Jeff Felts decided to do.

His business, Center Mass, began 20 years ago in his home’s basement. Today, the retired Wayne police officer operates the law enforcement products and gun shop out of a storefront in Livonia and has 30 employees.

“We started out as a police training entity. We have some products we own rights to,” he said. “We eventually did well enough to go to the banks ... and got a loan to buy this building.”

The store, located at 33825 Plymouth, has a retail shop as well as ten firing lanes for those who come and practice their shooting. He moved into it several years ago after purchasing it in 2010.

Felts said he started the private company 20 years ago as a way to offer additional training for law enforcement. Since, he’s also gotten into manufacturing of items for use by the military and law enforcement agencies.

He said he was involved in two shootings during his time as a police officer, and felt he was completely prepared for that experience. He wanted to offer such training to law enforcement.

“I knew there was a better way to do things,” he said. “In 1996, I started Center Mass. And we have grown exponentially since then.”

Those opportunities also lead to eventually expanding more training opportunities to civilians. That’s a side, Felts said, that’s seen a big spike in interest in recent months.

“The citizens need just as good of training for themselves,” he said. “I thought I would try to provide that for them.”

He hopes to have a celebratory cookout sometime this summer to recognize the company’s 20-year anniversary, though no date has been selected.

National Patrol Rifle Conference

In addition to operating the business, Felts is the chairman of the National Patrol Rifle Conference, an annual event held for hundreds of law enforcement officials across the country. This year’s event will take place June 4 and 5 in Oakland County. Shooting will take place at a local shooting range, and other events, including several high-profile speakers, will take place at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi.

The event, now in its 17th year, attracts law enforcement professionals from across the country, and recognizes some each year. This year, San Bernardino police officer Nicholas Koahou, who was a part of taking down the shooters in that city back on Dec. 2, will be recognized.

The award, named the Chief Jeff Chudwin Patrol Rifle Award, has been given to several notable people over the years, including former Marine sniper Chris Kyle, whose memoir was the basis of the movie “American Sniper.”

Felts said he met Kyle at the conference before he was killed in 2013, saying Bradley Cooper’s depiction of him in the film “nailed him to a tee.”

“He absolutely nailed Chris,” he said. “Chris was a very good man. Very humble.”

dveselenak@hometownlife.com | 734-678-6728 Twitter: @DavidVeselenak

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