FREDERICTON – The Fredericton police department should have allowed another agency to handle a local blogger’s criminal libel investigation.

That’s according to a report by Bernard Richard, New Brunswick’s former ombudsman.

He says the Fredericton police should have “farmed out” the investigation of Charles LeBlanc given a checkered history between him and the department.

The review started earlier this year after police in Fredericton seized LeBlanc’s computer equipment from his home while investigating a complaint of criminal libel from one of its own officers.

The justice department said it could not support laying a criminal libel charge over comments LeBlanc made online about a city police officer, so no charge was ever laid.

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.