Cost of St. Patrick's Day enforcement balloons to $800K since 2022

Students on Marshall Street celebrating St. Patrick's Day on Satuday, March 16, 2024.

The Waterloo Regional Police Service is sharing new details about how much it has cost them to deal with large, unsanctioned street parties during St. Patrick’s Day.

Figures shared on Tuesday with the Waterloo Regional Police Service Board show enforcement has cost the police $800,000 since 2022.

When the cost of other first responders and government agencies are factored in, the price tag grows to approximately $1,000,000.

Deputy Police Chief Jennifer Davis said the police are considering new strategies to tackle the problem.

“We hope to share some of those specific strategies for implementation in the new year and it really is about our primary goal of ensuring public safety, but also recognizing there are rising financial costs associated with these events that need to be addressed as well,” she said.

Police said officers responded to almost 400 calls related to St. Patrick’s Day parties this year alone.

Almost 240 charges were filed and 10 arrests were made.

According to a report presented to the Waterloo Regional Police Service Board in April, the total cost of operations from the Friday to Sunday weekend of St.Patrick's Day this year came in at $318,000 alone.

The police estimate includes $195,000 spent on overtime and $25,000 for planning and analysis. It represents an increase of $51,000 from the overall 2023 costs.

The City of Waterloo estimated it spent an additional $103,800 on bylaw, fire and transit service.