FREDERICTON – A review of the Fredericton police department’s handling of a local blogger’s criminal libel investigation says the force should have allowed another agency to pursue the probe.
The report by Bernard Richard, New Brunswick’s former ombudsman, says the Fredericton police should have “farmed out” the investigation of Charles LeBlanc given the troubled history between him and the department.
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The review was launched earlier this year after the Fredericton police searched LeBlanc’s home and seized his computer equipment while investigating a complaint of criminal libel from one of its own officers.
No charge was ever laid because the province’s Justice Department said it could not support laying a criminal libel charge over comments LeBlanc made online about a city police officer.
Acting police Chief Leanne Fitch says the force accepts Richard’s seven recommendations, which include mandatory training on dealing with emotionally disturbed people.
They also call on the Fredericton police to ensure that officers who are the targets of unfair criticism stemming from their work have access to support.
Fitch says the recommendations will be acted upon in the coming weeks.
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