As the North Dakota Peace Officers Association 97 Annual Convention winded down this week, Williston Police Officers Kenny Prentice and Walter Hall were just getting familiar with their new city.

Prentice is a native of Tonopah, Nev., which is a small town between Reno and Las Vegas. He attended Dickinson State University (DSU) where he completed general requirements. He earned his criminal justice degree at Bismarck State College.

“This is something I always wanted to do since I was 10,” Prentice said of entering law enforcement.

He first came to southwestern North Dakota because he wanted to play baseball for DSU, but injuries changed those plans. He is to complete his academy requirements in January at the North Dakota Police Academy in Bismarck, which is simply be a formality.

Prentice previously served as a corrections officer at the Southwest Multi-County Correctional Center in Dickinson. There, he also served in the Stark County Sheriff’s Department Reserve program for six years. “I am still trying to learn the town,” Prentice said of coming to Williston. “For the most part, I like it. It’s interesting - the people, everything.”

He said the paperwork isn’t always exciting, but an average day typically offers an officer a good variety of activities.

He has a wife and a daughter and does have local ties through his wife’s family. Prentice spends his off-time playing with his daughter, hunting and fishing.

He said the officers and his supervisors have been very supportive his first few weeks.

“They are all really good guys.They like to give a rookie a hard time,” he said with a chuckle.

Officer Hall is a native of Laurel, Mont., which is about five miles from Billings. He served as a reserve officer there for three years.

Hall graduated from Laurel High School and obtained his law enforcement degree from Dawson Community College and a sociology degree from Montana State University-Billings. He studied law enforcement in college, as he familiar with the profession and thought it was a good fit.

“Mainly, it was family. Family and friends were in this program,” he said. “It’s a professional job amongst the community. You keep the town you live in safe.”

He said the opportunity and family in North Dakota brought him to Williston.

“I’ve loved it. It’s a great community. People are great,” he said.

On his days off, Hall enjoys riding his motorcycle, golfing and hunting.

“The community and everybody has been awesome to work with,” Hall said. “They are all professional...All in all, it’s a great community to work for day or night.”