Police spent more than $550,000 managing Laurier parties

WATERLOO — Waterloo Regional Police spent more than $200,000 to manage the street party at Wilfrid Laurier University’s homecoming.

Nearly half of the $221,500 total cost was overtime to pay for extra officers to work that day. When you add policing costs for the St. Patrick’s Day party on Ezra Avenue, police spent more than $550,000 on street parties at Laurier in 2018.

Police Chief Bryan Larkin presented the costs at a police services board meeting this week. Board members shared his concern about the rising cost of policing the parties.

Board member Karl Kiefer said there needs to be a “buy-in” from the university when it comes to paying for some of the extra costs.

Larkin said “challenging and candid” conversations are happening with the universities, student unions and the city of Waterloo. More information will come to the police services board in January.

In September, 14,000 people partied on Ezra Avenue for homecoming. It was the largest homecoming party ever at Laurier. Police laid 462 charges, ranging from liquor offences, public nuisance and trespassing, to bylaw and driving-related infractions. There were six criminal charges and 12 people arrested.

On St. Patrick’s Day, more than 22,000 people converged on Ezra Avenue. Police laid 648 charges — 440 of them related to alcohol. There also were charges for trespassing, public nuisance and drivingrelated infractions. There were 22 criminal charges.

Larkin said that, ironically, the service appears to be the “victim” of its success in policing the parties.

“Over the years, we provided a safe environment and, quite frankly, I have been more than tolerable,” Larkin said in an interview after the meeting. “Some would accuse me of being more moderate and more accommodating as the chief of police, and I accept that.”

Larkin said the service is leading a dialogue involving other police services and Ontario university administrators to talk about controlling student parties.

He noted that the unsanctioned parties on Ezra Avenue are relatively safe considering the large numbers of partygoers. But the ever-growing parties on Ezra need to stop, he said.

“I would like to take the half a million dollars and invest it other initiatives,” he said. “It’s time to move on.”

Board chair Tom Galloway said “a line has been crossed” when police have to pay for extra officers to come from out of town to help with containing the crowds.

“Where does the community responsibility end and the institution’s responsibility start?” he asked.