Remembering a Hero | Video

Michelle San Miguel | 7/10/2011

The Bismarck community is remembering a hero this weekend. Bismarck Police Sgt. Steven Kenner, 56, died Friday night while responding to a domestic disturbance call on the 2500 block of East Broadway Avenue.

On Friday night, the Bismarck Police Department lost its first officer killed in the line of duty. Kenner was a 32-year veteran of the police department. He`s remembered among colleagues as a very dedicated and hardworking officer.

"Without a doubt, he was an expert in the area of traffic enforcement, traffic accident investigation. You know I think without a doubt here in the department when we had a tough traffic accident or question, he was the one that we turned to. He was our in-house expert without a doubt," recalled Bismarck Chief of Police Keith Witt.

"If there`s a traffic accident, he knew after looking at the information basically how it developed and was able to tell people after the fact how things went together," said Bill Wocken, Bismarck city administrator.

Wocken knew Kenner for more than 25 years and considered him a friend. He said Kenner was always willing to help others no matter what.

"When you meet him, he`s this huge hulk of a guy and but when you talk to him, he`s got a very gentle demeanor about him. Very kind and I enjoyed the time I got to spend with him," said Bismarck City Commissioner Josh Askvig.

Kenner also served on the National Guard for roughly 10 years before leaving in 1992. He`s remembered among colleagues as a professional and someone who mentored young officers on the police force.

"Just a good man. I think his physical size sometimes folks found him intimidating but that really wasn`t the way he was. He was really nice just a nice man," said Witt.

Sergeant Bismarck are flying at half staff until Kenner`s funeral. The police department is assisting Kenner`s family with funeral arrangements. Those details have yet to be released.

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