Sundown Security

About

Providing service-first private security for Montana, Wyoming, and North Dakota since 1982.

As a family owned and operated company, Sundown Security is proud to serve communities across the Northwest Region and companies of all sizes with a variety of security offerings. Providing timely, secure, and efficient services helps your business minimize risk. Choosing our company, you will experience a customer service focused service, ensuring you never feel like just another client. With more than 35 staff members trained in armed and unarmed security guard service, we’ve got the team to meet your needs.

History

Established in 1982 by Elwin and Joleen Kirkwood, Sundown is a revered family-owned business dedicated to safeguarding both our clients and community. Starting with event and business security, including night patrols in Billings, MT, our scope expanded in 1991 to encompass secure cash transportation, armored courier, and ATM services for financial institutions and retail businesses in Montana and Wyoming. The shift to a larger facility in 2017 was a strategic move to enhance support for our esteemed clients and committed team. Under Derek Kirkwood's leadership, who assumed the role of COO in 2016 and later purchased the business in 2023, we maintain a tradition of community-oriented service and steadfast support for our employees. Our pursuit of excellence isn't just a commitment; it reflects our enduring principles. Every member of our security team is dedicated to providing top-notch services with a personal touch, prioritizing our clients' needs above all else in our partnership-focused approach to business.

“They’re not just customers son, they’re family.”
— Elwin "Tiny" Kirkwood
 

Leadership Staff

 
 

PRESIDENT, OWNER, chief operations officer

Derek Kirkwood

Derek has grown up in the business, and worked side by side with his mom and dad for more than 20 years. Purchasing the company upon Joleen’s retirement in 2023, Derek believes with all of his heart in the service model Elwin and Joleen created, and has been a crucial part of the company’s growth. When Derek isn’t working with his team to ensure the security and safety of his staff and clients, you’ll find him focused on one of his MANY hobbies. Derek is a true Montanan through and through, and enjoys archery and rifle hunting, flat track and hill climb racing, camping and fishing all around the state of Montana. His wife and fellow leadership team member, Morgan, have a 14 year old son, who is growing up to follow in Derek’s hobby footsteps. Derek is a hard working and honest person. He leads his staff with integrity, and that will always be a priority value at Sundown Security.

 
 
 

VICE PRESIDENT, corporate secretary, chief financial officer

Morgan Ditto (Kirkwood)

Joining the company in 2021, Morgan was excited to bring her 10 years of diverse business management experience to the table, strategically planning for growth for her family’s business. Morgan loves to learn, grow, and connect with people, building relationships with clients and staff, always looking to how the company can take a good experience to great. Morgan is a problem solver, creating custom solutions for Sundown clients. When Morgan isn’t connecting with clients or crunching numbers, you’ll find her volunteering in various capacities. She’s full of creativity and joy, and enjoys the local comedy scene, as an improv and stand up comedian. Morgan is the loudest parent at the baseball field during one of her and Derek’s son’s baseball games, cheering for both teams. She believes in leading from a place of understanding and empathy, and collaborating with others to create valuable solutions. Approaching every challenge with kindness, Morgan take’s care of her clients, their customers, and her team. Kindness will always be a priority value at Sundown Security.

 
 
 

field supervisor, senior armed security guard

Brian Haun

Brian is one of the best in his field, having worked for Sundown for more than 13 years, and was promoted to Field Supervisor in 2018. Brian came to Sundown with a wealth of experience, having worked in law enforcement and corrections for 5 years. He ensures security and safety protocols are the focus out in the field, while the team delivers on their services with a smile on their face. When Brian isn’t working the field, you’ll find him relaxing by a campfire with his wife and 2 kids, or teaching his daughter about business selling her homegrown chicken eggs. Brian ensures the security and courier staff work as a team and that the service they deliver is something the client can always count on. Brian and his team are dependable and that will always be a priority value at Sundown Security.

 
 
 
 

BUSINESS MANAGER

Christy McNeish

As the central manager on the leadership team, Christy is focused on the resources needed to meet and exceed expectations, both of her clients and her staff. The client and staff experience is important to the leadership team. When Christy isn’t setting priorities and ensuring everyone has what they need to succeed, you’ll find her spending time with her husband, 2 daughters, bonus kids and grandchild. Christy is a kind and fun loving person. She treats her clients and staff like family, and that will always be a priority value at Sundown Security.

 

administrative manager

Natasha Abel

Photo and biography coming soon! We are thrilled to have Natasha on the team.

 
“Our values are simple: Kindness. Integrity. Customer Service Excellence. Dependability.”
— Sundown Security Team