Thousands of partygoers pose challenge for police over Queen’s homecoming weekend
Global News
The weekend saw thousands of partiers fill the streets, and sometimes get violent with police, despite pleas from University and city officials for a calm homecoming weekend.
Kingston police had their hands full over the weekend dealing with, at times, thousands of rowdy and sometimes aggressive homecoming partiers in the Queen’s University District.
Over the weekend, excessively large gatherings took place, fines were given, and charges were laid against a number of people. A Kingston police officer was sent to hospital after being assaulted during an arrest, police say.
The crowds were at their peak Saturday night and into Sunday morning, with partiers at Aberdeen Street and then Victoria Park, despite multiple warnings from both Queen’s and city officials that large gatherings would not be tolerated.
When officers tried to break up these gatherings, police say some of the partiers resisted.
Sgt. Steve Koopman said in an interview Sunday that police feel frustrated by the behaviour. “We’ve had multiple beer bottles and other objects thrown in the direction of our officers while they’re simply trying to conduct their duty.”
There is currently no update on the officer that was injured on Saturday by a thrown object, but Koopman said the officer was not seriously injured.
Due to the intense crowds, other police forces, including Brockville police, were also at the scene to assist Kingston police as the crowds relocated from the University District to Victoria Park in the early hours of Sunday.