Waterloo’s police chief says tactical officers, together with snipers, could proceed for use at giant occasions as wanted, following their deployment throughout an unsanctioned St. Patrick’s Day road get together within the metropolis’s college district.
Waterloo Regional Police confirmed that an officer seen in circulating pictures and video monitoring the group from an elevated place was a part of its operations over the weekend.
Town of Waterloo, referred to as a pupil hub attributable to its affiliation with the College of Waterloo and Laurier, is dwelling to among the largest public gatherings in Ontario.
In earlier years, town has tried to host “sanctioned” gatherings for security and higher management however was not efficient.
Director of company affairs for Waterloo police, Cherri Greeno, mentioned the deployment was a part of a broader security plan developed for the gathering, which was anticipated to attract giant crowds primarily based on prior occasions.
“As with all operational deployments that contain giant gatherings with mass casualty issues, a complete security plan was developed that included members of our Public Order Unit and Emergency Response Group,” Greeno mentioned in a press release.
Get every day Nationwide information
Get every day Canada information delivered to your inbox so you will by no means miss the day’s high tales.
“Tactical officers had been positioned in elevated areas to watch the realm and establish potential security considerations that might not be seen to officers on the bottom.” Greeno added.
Tactical officers had been additionally positioned in elevated areas to permit them to watch the whole space and establish potential security considerations that might not be seen to officers on the bottom.
Police additionally applied different measures, together with obstacles to forestall automobiles from coming into the realm.
“The magnitude of unlucky mass casualty occasions which have occurred throughout North America and world wide in latest many years have formed emergency response methods for all giant gatherings,” Waterloo Regional Police Chief Mark Crowell mentioned.
“In accordance with legislated requirements for emergency response and public order deployment, our officers successfully managed a big unsanctioned gathering, upholding security for all concerned.”
Crowell indicated that related ways could also be used once more sooner or later, relying on the circumstances of the occasion.
Waterloo Mayor Dorothy McCabe mentioned she was initially unaware of the particular measures.
“I used to be stunned to be taught that the Waterloo Regional Police preparations for the unsanctioned road gathering consists of such excessive security measures,” McCabe mentioned in a press release.
Whereas noting town’s long-standing relationship with police, McCabe mentioned oversight of the power falls outdoors her position.
“In our two-tiered municipal system, the chief doesn’t report back to me as mayor and I don’t sit on the police board,” she mentioned.
McCabe added she has since spoken with Crowell and now has a greater understanding of the plan, expressing confidence in police and emergency providers to make sure public security
The deployment comes as discussions round public security and emergency preparedness proceed extra broadly, together with elevated give attention to protecting measures at giant public gatherings.
© 2026 World Information, a division of Corus Leisure Inc.
