The Saint John Police Commission requested a review of how the Richard Oland murder investigation was carried out, not because there’s any lack of confidence in the police department.
Police Chief John Bates says the police investigation was criticised during the second degree murder trial of Dennis Oland by both the judge and defense lawyers and he’ll be answering that at some future date.
The Chair of the Police Commission, Nicole Paquet says the review is meant to reassure the public but the Police Commission has absolute confidence in the police department and Chief Bates. She points out what was highlighted at the trial happened four and a half years ago and improvoements have been made since then but if there are any more recommendations emerging from the review, they will be considered for implementation.
There was a lot of criticism of the police investigation on social media as well. Paquet says that’s not necessarily reflective of what most people in the city believe but it can’t be ignored.
