Police officer with Amherstburg roots speaks to MIW

Sr. Const. Sean Gazdig goes over some of his equipment during a recent talk at the Military Institute of Windsor (MIW).

A Windsor police officer with roots in Amherstburg gave some insight into the current unit he works in to the Military Institute of Windsor (MIW).

Sr. Const Sean Gazdig was the guest speaker at the MIW’s monthly speaker’s luncheon in mid-November at Royal Canadian Legion Br. 594. 

Gazdig started his policing career in London before becoming part of the Amherstburg Police Service. 

Gazdig is now a training officer with Windsor police and is part of the Public Order Unit (POU), with the latter being the focus of his presentation.

Gazdig pointed out Windsor police started its own POU in 2023. It is one of 12 across the province, he added, and it has 42 members including eight team leaders or assistant team leaders. Gazdig is an assistant team leader.

“I’m on call 24/7,” Gazdig said. “We’re a crowd management team.”

The POU has to balance people’s right to assemble and protest, while also maintaining the rights of others as well, he told the group. 

Gazdig noted POU’s were used during protests during the COVID-19 pandemic but also on other occasions  during and since, such as fireworks nights and other public gatherings. 

“We put police in the crowd because we want you to have a safe evening,” he told the MIW regarding fireworks night in Windsor.

The intent is to do their jobs as peacefully as possible, he said.

Goals of the POU are to protect life and property, gain public confidence, maintain peace and public order, protect VIP’s and federal institutions and to protect freedom of expression.

Gazdig outlined three levels of response, from a “soft tac” response all the way to a “hard tac” response. He said the stage police use crowd management tactics based on how the people respond, but police do their best not to inflame situations.

“The crowd is going to dictate our reaction,” he said. 

Local police may have to travel to other cities to help with crowd management, with Gazdig using the upcoming FIFA World Cup in 2026 as an example of events POU’s may have to be used at.

Gazdig was the second Windsor police representative to appear before the Military Institute of Windsor in as many months, with then-Chief Jason Bellaire there in mid-September to give a presentation. 

Police officer with Amherstburg roots speaks to MIW

By Ron Giofu