“The Fredericton Police Force recognizes its obligations under the Official Languages Act of New Brunswick, including the requirement to actively offer service and to provide service in the public’s official language of choice, as set out in FPF Policy 12.FPF.1, and takes the concern referenced in the Commissioner of Official Languages’ Annual Report seriously and was responded to as such.
It is important to underscore the context of this specific incident. Officers were responding to an emergency involving a child in significant medical distress. In such circumstances, the immediate preservation of life is the first priority, consistent with policing standards and FPF policy, while still making every reasonable effort to meet official language obligations.
To provide further context, the Fredericton Police Force responded to more than 64,000 calls for service in 2023 and 2024. Within those and thousands more public interactions, the Commissioner’s Annual Report references one complaint involving the City of Fredericton. While any complaint is taken seriously, this reflects a single incident, and not a systemic issue, and does not lessen the Force’s obligation to comply with the Official Languages Act, including during emergencies.
FPF policy and practice does not allow officers to “relinquish their language responsibilities.” Where the responding officer is not bilingual, established procedures require that a request for a bilingual officer be made through dispatch, or that other reasonable measures be taken to ensure service in the requested language as soon as possible.
FPF remains committed to continuous improvement, to learning from complaints when they arise, while never losing sight of its fundamental duty to protect life and public safety.”
Chief Gary Forward, Fredericton Police Force