Fredericton blogger wants New Brunswick Police Act changed|MICHAEL STAPLE Daily Gleaner (Sept 19, 2016)
An outspoken Fredericton blogger is calling for changes to the province’s Police Act after a complaint he launched was not investigated because more than a year had passed.
The New Brunswick Police Act sets a time limit of 12 months for a complaint to be filed.
Charles LeBlanc, known for his outspoken public battles with law enforcement, wants the one-year statute of limitation regarding complaints removed.
LeBlanc said he filed a complaint on July 14 against four New Brunswick police officers regarding a situation alleged to have happened on Jan. 1, 2015.
But, he said, the complaint was turned down because too much time had elapsed.
“Given the prescribed time limitations of the Police Act, we are, regrettably, unable to process your complaint,” The New Brunswick Police Commission said in July 19 letter to LeBlanc.
LeBlanc said the commission needs to start talking to people who have been affected by the system.
“If it is happening to me, what other persons is this happening to?” LeBlanc said in an interview. “The people on the street, what can be done, what can be helped to protect the innocent. The citizen must be protected.”
Efforts are underway in the province to modernize the Police Act with stakeholders having met at least twice this summer in Fredericton in efforts to do so.
The Police Act governs municipal policing in the province.
Police chiefs are asking, among other things, that the act be changed so that arbitration hearings can be held more quickly.
They also want the power to suspend officers without pay, something they can’t do under provisions contained in the existing act.
The provincial statute, enacted in 1977 with the Code of Conduct and Regulations being revamped in 2007, mandates that suspended officers be paid while criminal and Police Act investigations and proceedings take place. Suspension without pay can only be applied once all due processes are completed, the officer is found at fault and the loss of pay is strictly related to discipline.
Steve Roberge, executive director of the New Brunswick Police Commission, said the statute limitation penned in the Act was not part of their 31-issue position paper completed earlier this year.
“Mr. LeBlanc could challenge the one-year statute via a judicial review,” Roberge said in an email.
LeBlanc said he’s not impressed.
“They tell me, because of time limitations - one year - they can’t proceed, they can’t investigate this,” LeBlanc said. “There is something very, very wrong if a person like me - who just happens to put a lot of motions in - [can’t] find out what is going on.”
I enjoy these videos, seeing you whine, and complain that the system is out to get you.
ReplyDeleteWord of advice Chuckie, stay out of trouble and don't do shit that attracts trouble