Independent consultant to review New Brunswick Police Commission policies, procedures

An independent consultant has been hired to review the policies, practices and procedures of the New Brunswick Police Commission, the Department of Public Safety announcedon Monday.

Alphonse MacNeil, a retired assistant commissioner with the RCMP, will file a report to the government by this summer, said Minster Carl Urquhart.

The commission's board of directors requested the review in Januaryto "maintain public confidence" in theindependent oversight body responsible for protecting the public interest in matters of policing.

MacNeil, who reviewed the fatal Moncton Mountie shootings,has "earned the respect of the public, government and the policing community thanks to his commitment to integrity and his work as a leader and subject matter expert," Urquhart said in a statement.

His review of the 2014 shooting spree that claimed the lives of three Codiac Regional RCMP officers and wounded two others, resulted in 64 recommendations.

The police commission board's requestfor an independent review comes after a change at the helm. Former executive director SteveRobergehas been replaced by Jennifer Smith.

Roberge's departure, effective Jan. 2, occurred less than a week after the association representing municipal police officers called for his removal, calling him a "dictator" who is "anti-police officer."

The New Brunswick Police Association has long been critical of the way the commission, under Roberge's leadership, handlesPolice Act investigations into police officers.

That includes an investigation into the conduct of the former deputy chief of the Saint John Police Force, Glen McCloskey, in connection withDennis Oland'sfirst murdertrial.

During Oland's 2015 trial related to thedeath of his father, Richard Oland, another officer accused the senior officer of encouraging him not to reveal that McCloskeyhad entered the bloody crime scene.

Retired Staff Sgt. Mike King repeated the allegation at Oland'ssecond-degree murder retrial earlier this year.

McCloskeyhas twice denied the allegation under oath.

The commission's appointed investigator, Barry MacKnight, concluded in December 2016 that McCloskeymade false statementsat Oland's first trialand to Halifax police officers, who ultimately cleared McCloskey of criminal wrongdoing.

Lawsuit filed

McCloskey, whose retirementlast April pre-empted an arbitration hearing, is now suing the New Brunswick Police Commission and Roberge for alleged negligence.

He accuses them offailingto conduct the investigation without bias,deliberately engaging in unlawful conduct in exercising their public function, and violating the public trust.

None of the allegations have been proven in court.

Statements of defence havenot yet been filed.

McCloskeyis alsoseeking a judicial review of the commission's investigation.In documents filed with the Court of Queen's Bench, healleges the commission acted in bad faithand that he was "denied natural justice due to a lack of procedural fairness."

Board to co-operate fully

The commission's board has said it willfully co-operate with the independent consultant's review and is "committed to continually reviewing the way it provides quality services to citizens and the police community and meets its mandate with integrity and impartiality."

MacNeil's 180-page report on the June 4, 2014 MonctonRCMP shootingscalledfor the national police forceto take immediate action to better arm its officers, including the expedited deployment of patrol carbines and improved training.

He found the responding officers were outgunned, having to rely on shotguns and pistols, while Justin Bourque was armed with a high-powered rifle.

Patrol carbines short-barrelledweaponswith a longer, more accurate range than a sidearm or shotgun would have made a difference, said MacNeil.

Const. Douglas James Larche, 40, Const. Dave Joseph Ross, 32, and Const. FabriceGeorges Gevaudan, 45, were shot and killed during the attack. Const.ric Stphane J. Dubois and Const. MarieDarleneGoguen were wounded.