Kingston Police ‘disappointed’ with behaviour during Queen’s Homecoming
While Homecoming Weekend included a lot of well-attended and positive events, the partying and unsavoury behaviour overshadowed those moments for Kingston Police.
“Kingston Police are disappointed with the behaviour that was displayed on Saturday, October 19, in the Aberdeen Street area,” police said in a press release on Monday, Oct. 21, 2019. “Although most people were polite and cooperative, officers dealt with several individuals who were disrespectful and defiant, and numerous provincial and criminal offences were committed. Our community expects better.”
Police estimate there were between 10,000 and 12,000 people on the streets on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019.
“Despite these numbers and some rowdy and dangerous behaviour, no serious injuries were reported, thanks to the hard work and dedication of our officers and the assistance of our community partners and other first responders,” police said.
A total of 38 officers were deployed on Friday, Oct. 18, and 108 were deployed on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019. In total, officers issued 109 provincial offences, two criminal charges, and numerous warnings.
According to Kingston Police, three criminal incidents took place on the Saturday of Homecoming Weekend:
- On Division Street, a police cruiser was damaged when a 20-year-old Toronto man climbed on top of it and began yelling and jumping up and down on the roof. The accused man jumped from the cruiser and ran when officers ordered him to get down, but he was apprehended after a short foot pursuit.
- On Aberdeen Street, a Red Bull vehicle was heavily damaged by multiple people climbing and jumping on it.
- On Johnson Street, a Kingston Police officer was assaulted while attempting to identify a male with open alcohol. This male resisted arrest and fled, and this occurred while onlookers filmed and encouraged the male suspect’s assaultive behavior. No bystanders intervened to assist the officer.
In the first incident, the Toronto man was charged with mischief and causing a disturbance. The other two incidents are currently being investigated by the Kingston Police Criminal Investigation Unit. Kingston Police are asking for public assistance in identifying those responsible for the other two incidents so that they can be held accountable for their criminal acts.
Anyone with information regarding the assault captured on video of a Kingston Police officer is asked to please contact Constable Joel Fisher at 613-549-4660, ext. 6338, or via email at [email protected].
Anyone with information regarding the damage to the Red Bull vehicle is asked to please contact Constable Kevin Closs at 613-549-4660, ext. 6302, or via email at [email protected].
Tips can also be provided anonymously by calling the Kingston Police general number (613-549-4660, ext. 0) and asking to be anonymous, or by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
Additionally, Kingstonist estimates approximately 30 more street signs went missing in the University District over Homecoming Weekend. Although there was a lot of mess in the streets after Saturday’s parties, a clean-up organized by Queen’s University students proved helpful, and most of the litter was cleared up by Monday.
They poorly representing our city so embarrassing
Apparently other university cities have the same problems.
Maybe the landlords who rent to the students should be held accountable as well
How does that make any sense? Adults are responsible for their own actions. The individuals who misbehaved should be held accountable not the people who happen to rent out the space where they live. That’s a complete irrelevancy.
The landlords are responsible for the activities on the common areas of their properties.
“KINGSTON Police are disappointed” A completely demoralized and impotent force due to current Mayors cowardice and sycophantic behaviour towards the University.
I personally believe there should be a $50-100 fee for each student attending postsecondary school in Kingston, let’s call it a City Restitution Fee. This fee would go to the city to help offset the cost of dealing with this nonsense. All of us law abiding tax payers in this city pay way more than this amount in fees and taxes every month, so a yearly fee isn’t too much to ask. I mean if Ontario Hydro can charge every customer a fee every month to help pay off money that was stolen from them from a retirement fund, then I think the city can make the college’s n university charge a small fee to help pay for the cost of bullshit. Besides the extra policing paramedics and fire department responses that go on because of the students in the city let’s not forget the mess that’s left on the streets from homecoming and the mess they leave on their front lawns when they leave the city for the summer. All of this cost taxpayers money so if each student had to pay a $50-$100 fee it would go a long way to help balance out some of the cost and wouldn’t be a huge expense to each student.
I personally believe there should be a $50-100 fee for each student attending postsecondary school in Kingston, let’s call it a City Restitution Fee. This fee would go to the city to help offset the cost of dealing with this nonsense. All of us law abiding tax payers in this city pay way more than this amount in fees and taxes every month, so a yearly fee isn’t too much to ask. I mean if Ontario Hydro can charge every customer a fee every month to help pay off money that was stolen from them from a retirement fund, then I think the city can make the college’s and university charge a small fee to help pay for the cost of rubbish. Besides the extra policing paramedics and fire department responses that go on, because of the students in the city, let’s not forget the mess that’s left on the streets from homecoming and the mess they leave on their front lawns when they leave the city for the summer. All of this cost taxpayers money, so if each student had to pay a $50-$100 fee it would go a long way to help balance out some of the cost and wouldn’t be a huge expense to each student.
Ya bro its called 23,000$ in student debt
I appreciate your point of view but your solution is very flawed. Just because they are students you can not assume they do not contribute to the City of Kingston’s coffers. Students pay a considerable amount of money to attend school in Kingston for 8 months of the year. While there they pay tuition and other fees to the school and the City collects taxes from the school. The local economy benefits immensely from the school and the students that attend it. They pay private entities for accommodation (again the City collect taxes). One could also directly attribute that the school and students are the reason Kingston has a robust entertainment district. The transit system also benefits from post secondary attendance as students use public transit (again Kingston receives the money). Also do not forget, the primary way for Kingston to directly recovery the cost associated with these types of events is through local by-law enforcement and the fines levied against offenders. Perhaps you could lobby the city council to increase fines if you wish to have a higher cost recovery.
There is an alternative, establish a stronger partnership with the schools and student councils and together come up with solutions that work to address the culture / behaviour of the student population.
the students are horribly disrespectful to local businesses.I stopped in after work LCBO princess st was packed Friday with students and the parking lot was a mess, students drinking outside and leaving garbage; don’t even get me started with inside.
It’s the same old chap every year! I don’t know why anyone is surprised. Never changes. Never will until it’s shut down for good. Definition of insanity folks…..
*crap
I totally agree!
Um, no. That is for the “education” – and one which is apparently ineffective, given the behavior.
Why do we continue to let t his happen and cater to Queens .We should make Queens pay for the overtime and the clean up or better yet let them go to the new Richardson stadium and don’t let the students out of there. .Maybe if they destroy the University’s property .They won’t continue to get a get out of jail free card here .
I like to believe we get the last laugh when many of these students graduate with their 23,000$ degrees to work at Tim Horton’s full time to make my coffee in the morning.
You do realize that although students may complete school and initially work in a retail setting like Tim Horton’s, they will eventually move up the employment ladder because of their education. Education is a long term investment in their future not a burden and they will likely find a better pay job in the first few years after graduating.
Ok boomer
In South Western Ontario homecoming weekend for Waterloo, Guelph and Laurier University was held on the same weekend so that there would be less people attending. Not sure if it worked out for that area but perhaps something similar could be established in Eastern Ontario.