BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) _ A new group of eight North Dakota Highway Patrol troopers is graduating Friday, and six of them are being assigned to western North Dakota's oil country.
Three troopers are being assigned to Williston, while individual officers are being posted to Watford City, Velva and Beach. The other two new troopers are being assigned to Langdon and Linton.
Highway Patrol Commander Jim Prochniak (PRAWK'-nee-ack) says the class made it through a compressed 20-week training schedule. The normal training time is 25 weeks.
Their graduation ceremony is being held Friday at the National Guard armory in east Bismarck. Lt. Gov. Drew Wrigley will be speaking.
Prochniak says there's an increased demand for more law enforcement in western North Dakota because of the increased influx of people and traffic, especially from heavy trucks.
