Taxpayers can breathe a sigh of relief: Greenpeace’s stunt didn’t cost them any extra pennies.
Calgary police and fire teams responded to Greenpeace activists at the Calgary Tower Tuesday morning, as protesters climbed the tower to unfurl a “Separate Oil and State” banner.
Police who arrived on-scene were on duty anyhow, according to Emma Poole with Calgary Police Services.
“It was more of a disruption than an additional cost,” she said. “We have to draw from other areas of the service to cover one call. This disrupts other units.”
The Calgary Fire Department didn’t have to call in extra personnel, either. But, said Brian McAsey of the department, the call was still a “tax upon the system.”
“If there had been a fire or if a rescue was needed (at the same time), our response would have been slower and resources more scarce,” he said.
Yesterday, nine protesters, including two Calgarians, were charged with one count each of breaking out and mischief to property.
Acting Staff Sgt. Abe Hammoud said police will broadcast a message to downtown buildings about increasing security.
“We want to make sure this kind of incident won’t happen in the future.”
