Overview
- Waterloo police confirmed the officer photographed on an elevated perch during the university district street party was a tactical sniper from their service.
- In a late Sunday email, police said mass-casualty planning shaped the operation, with vehicle-blocking barriers and elevated tactical positions to spot risks not visible on the ground.
- A police spokesperson told CBC the use of such tactical officers is standard protocol at major events locally and is common practice across Ontario and Canada.
- Mayor Dorothy McCabe sought an explanation, has spoken with Chief Mark Crowell, and reiterated she was not briefed on weapons or extreme-violence concerns that would clearly justify a sniper.
- Officials noted years of unsanctioned St. Patrick’s gatherings, prior arrests and a 2025 injunction, and said this year’s response involved coordination with emergency services and student unions.