‘They are there to protect you’: Ex-officer defends sniper at Waterloo St. Patrick’s Day event

A sniper watching over St. Patrick’s Day festivities in Waterloo on Saturday, March 14 raised eyebrows, causing shock and fear among many, but experts say such deployments are part of a standard proactive step to ensure public safety strategy at large public gatherings.

Scott Blandford, a program coordinator for public safety and policing programs at Wilfrid Laurier University and a retired police officer, told CBC news that the presence of a sniper at large gatherings is not unusual given potential threats.

“They are there to protect you as an attendee, to let you do what it is you are there to do and to make sure that nothing inappropriate or violent happens while you're in that group,” the outlet quoted.


Blandford added that the public should avoid immediately viewing such measures negatively and instead apply critical thinking to understand the rationale behind deploying tactical officers.

The Waterloo Regional Police Service had earlier confirmed that a sniper was deployed during the celebrations, after videos and photos circulated online showing an officer positioned on a balcony overlooking an unsanctioned street party.

The development also drew concern from local leadership. Waterloo Mayor, Dorothy McCabe told The Canadian Press she was “surprised and shocked” by the decision, noting she had not been informed of any specific threats or safety concerns that would warrant such a measure.

McCabe added that the annual unsanctioned gathering, which has taken place for around 15 years, has already been a source of disruption for residents and a strain on emergency services, including police, paramedics, and hospitals, as reported by CTV News.