11-23-2018, 11:34 AM
WLU parties cost police more than $500,000
Quote: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.
Quote: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. Those who say it's chaotic and the party is not under control are wrong, he said.
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.