How the Sarnia Police Facebook page exposed a young woman to public shaming

One woman’s story about how a single police post reshaped her sense of safety, privacy, and future.

When Tessa Bird-Carroll realized she had been posted on the Sarnia Police Service (SPS) Facebook page, her first reaction was not anger. It was fear.

“I was crying,” she said. “I was overwhelmed with everything going on at the time.”

On Nov. 19, 2025, Bird-Carroll appeared on the SPS Facebook page in connection with a petty theft matter that is still making its way through the courts. The post prompted a surge of unmoderated, hateful public commentary—a practice recently identified as a potential legal liability for the service.

Bird-Carroll is just one of many Sarnia residents whose lowest moments have been broadcast to thousands on the service’s social media feed.

In a media release issued the day after The Journal inquired about these moderation practices, the SPS defended the strategy. The service stated that while some police organizations prevent public commenting, the SPS supports it as part of "allowing reasonable expression of thoughts and ideas, consistent with the principles of living in a free and democratic society.”

For Bird-Carroll, that "reasonable expression" felt like a sudden, total loss of control.

She said the period surrounding the incident was marked by significant personal upheaval, none of which was reflected in the online response. She worried about screenshots spreading, about strangers reposting her photo, and about how people she did not know would judge her.

“I was mostly worried about everyone posting me on their social media and what everyone else would think,” she said.

The comments came quickly. Strangers weighed in on her life with certainty, little context, and no restraint. She said the posts were upsetting, but over time she made a conscious decision to stop reading them.

“I can’t let what people say affect me, because then I’d be in a really bad place,” she said. “Once I didn’t let the negative comments get to me, I wasn’t as worried.”

That emotional boundary, however, did not erase the experience.

At 18, Bird-Carroll says she is still learning how to process what happened while trying to move forward. While she had support from her mother, extended family, and support workers who have been in her life since her mid-teens, she still experienced moments of isolation.

“I experienced both isolation and getting support,” she said. “But I’m still very young and can get back on track.”

Since then, Bird-Carroll has been actively working to rebuild her life and strengthen her sense of self. She has been participating in cultural and learning programs, reconnecting with her heritage, and grounding herself in community-based healing.

One of the ways she has done that is through beadwork, which has become one of her primary hobbies. The practice has given her a sense of focus, patience, and pride, and has helped her reconnect with her culture in a hands-on, meaningful way.

She is also participating in Red Path, a culturally grounded program that blends clinical and traditional approaches to healing. The program focuses on emotional awareness, self-worth, communication, and resilience, using a holistic framework that connects mind, body, and spirit.

Alongside this, Bird-Carroll is taking part in a recovery group to help her heal from trauma.

While she defended herself online at the time, responding to comments on social media, she says no one confronted her in person. The confrontation remained digital, but its impact felt real.

One of her biggest concerns has been how the public attention could affect her future housing and employment.

“Yes, I am very worried the post will keep me from finding a home and work,” she said.

Now, she is attempting to balance accountability for the incident with the reality of a digital reputation that creates obstacles to stability long after the initial incident.

“I wish people did understand how losing people or losing yourself can lead to you making some not-so-smart choices, like drinking,” she said. “I think you just need to believe in yourself to get on the right track.”

In a small city where online posts linger and comment sections can follow people long after the moment has passed, the impact of public shaming does not end quickly.

“I can get back on track,” she said. “But it’s hard when people don’t let you.”