Heap Overrun

A popular axiom in society states that Lady Justice, the personification of the democratic justice system, is blind. The implication is that the the identity, influence or connections of both accused and accuser are irrelevant; both will receive equal treatment under the law with no special treatment accorded to the wealthy or to those with friends working in law enforcement.

Unfortunately, a cursory examination of reality shows that "axiom" is a poor word choice to describe how the common person is treated relative to their better-connected comrades. A better choice that more accuractly reflects the relation of Lady Justice's blindness to reality may be "fiction", or "fantasy". The Fredericton police have been no stranger to this, accepting and acting upon third-party complaints against Charles LeBlanc without any evidence but refusing to act upon any of his complaints even when presented with video evidence of wrongdoing.

Most recently, the Fredericton Police Force demonstrated the reality of the double standard of justice when they raided the home of Charles LeBlanc to execute a warrent, arrest LeBlanc on charges of defamatory libel (a criminal offence) and seize his computer equipment. Was it really necessary to send eight officers to seize his computer equipment? Was it even necessary at all? Why couldn't they have taken a copy of the alleged libelous posting and had an injunction issued preventing LeBlanc from posting or speaking about the officer he allegedly defamed? Was it really necessary to also seize his modem and monitor? What evidence could possibly be on his computer monitor or modem? Were the police being malicious or ignorant? Why has it been almost two years since the alleged libel without any action?

Charles LeBlanc is, in my personal opinion, annoying, inflammatory and sometimes a bit unusual. However, he has the right to express his opinion and he supposedly has the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty with a minimum necessary restriction on free speech and seizure of property.

LeBlanc has spent a lot of time using some rather colourful and offensive terms to describe the Fredericton Police Force; "KGB" and "fascist" come to mind and I'm sure there's others. A lot of people have asked why and when he will stop. What we should be asking, whether we agree with LeBlanc or not, is "what have the police done to prove him wrong" and "is this representative of how those who criticize the authorities will be dealt with"? The answers, as far as I can see, are "nothing" and "possibly", neither of which are answers we should be willing to accept.

Let's ask ourselves, if a common citizen were to make a complaint to the police about defamation, would we get eight officers to raid the home of the accused defamer? Or would we be told to get a lawyer and sue them, making the issue a civil matter? If a common citizen were to make a complaint, complete with video evidence, of wrongdoing by an elected official or a police officer, would we see the police acting on our complaint? Undortunately, that's highly unlikely.

Residents of Fredericton elect councillors, obstinently to represent us in City business, and we elect a mayor to lead us. Please contact your councillor, and the mayor, and let them know what you think. There is a map of Fredericton wards and a list of councillors for convenience.