Police outsourcing officers to end St. Patrick's Ezra street party

The high cost of policing and a strain on paramedic and health care providers has prompted Waterloo Regional Police to change policies in order to end the St. Patrick's Day party on Ezra Avenuein Waterloo.

Last year's annual unsanctioned university drink fest cost police$120,000, and with this year's festivities landing on a Saturday, the cost could rise.

Waterloo Regional Police Services Chief Bryan Larkin said this year they are hiringsupport officers from Peel Regional Police to assist in public safety.

They have to do this becausethey don't have the flexibility to take police resources from one end of the region and move it to another.

"This is a transition from our past approach where we facilitated a safe environment," saidLarkin. "We're shifting our policy approach."

He was not able to give a number as to how much that will cost.

Street takeover 'unlawful'

Police have already heard of party buses that plan to attend this year's festivities, which could mean bigger crowds than last year's peak of15,000 students in one location.

Larkinsaid that is the most students they've seen at the party and it prompted the discussion to make changes.

Taking over a street is "unlawful,"he said, and"can't continue and fraught with many different potential outcomes which are not safe for everybody."

"We will not support a street party. We will move people from the street, we'll encourage them to celebrate in the entertainment district, we'll encourage them to celebrate at a backyard barbecue."