Kalispell business groups look to hire security guards to patrol downtown

A trio of Kalispell business organizations are raising funds to pay for private security guards to patrol the downtown area in an effort to deter what representatives describe as vagrancy, and customer and employee safety.

The guards, contracted through local firm Talos Security, would protect business interests and connect homeless people in the midst of mental health or addiction crises with local social service providers, said Lorraine Clarno, president of the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce...