The son of slain Saint John businessman Richard Oland says a new report into how police handled his father’s killing does not go far enough.
On Friday, the New Brunswick Police Commission released a report which looks at how Saint John police have strengthened their handling of major crimes since Oland’s homicide.
But Dennis Oland, who was tried in his father’s death, says the report does not address the numerous missteps which took place during the investigation.
“Unfortunately, despite its original objective, the report does not analyze nor address the force’s inadequacies, mistakes, lack of knowledge, tunnel vision, and numerous missteps during and following the investigation. Nor does the report examine the actions and grievous failings of individual members of the force in relation to my father’s death,” said Oland in a statement released through his lawyer.
“My family, as well as the citizens of Saint John and New Brunswick, fully expected the NBPC to complete this inquiry as originally mandated.”
What Led To The Report
Oland was found dead in his uptown Saint John office in July 2011. His son, Dennis, was arrested more than two years later in November of 2013.
The younger Oland was convicted of first-degree murder in 2015 but the decision was later overturned and a judge found him not guilty after a second trial.
During his first trial in 2015, Justice Jack Walsh identified four issues relating to how Saint John police processed and managed the crime scene.
That prompted the Saint John Board of Police Commissioners to ask for a review to determine if systems, processes and policies were in place to adequately investigate a homicide.
In its report, the provincial police commission said the force has addressed the issues raised by Justice Walsh during the trial.
“I am pleased to see that the report contains some encouraging conclusions about the force’s current investigative methods. One hopes these improvements will prevent a repeat of the chaotic mismanagement witnessed during the investigation of my father’s murder,” said Oland.
The report recommends the force establish standard operating procedures and policy for investigating major crime incidents and utilize a Sudden Death Checklists for sudden deaths deemed non-criminal.
It also recommends the Minister of Public Safety create a provincial major case management policy.
“We hope and trust the new policies and procedures will ensure that what I was subjected to will not happen to others in the future,” Oland wrote.
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