Deputy police chief denies giving officer advice on testimony at Oland trial

SAINT JOHN, N.B. -- The conduct of a senior officer with the Saint John Police Force was under scrutiny Wednesday at the murder trial of Dennis Oland after a former staff sergeant alleged he was given advice on what to say when he testified.

But Glen McCloskey, who is now the deputy chief of police, told the court he did not suggest that anyone change their testimony.

He was cross-examined a day after former officer Mike King told the Court of Queen's Bench that he was asked by McCloskey not to reveal that he had entered the crime scene where the body of Richard Oland was found in a pool of blood on July 7, 2011.

Dennis Oland, 47, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of second-degree murder in his father's death.

King said the conversation with McCloskey occurred just before or during the preliminary hearing last year and it was difficult for him to be a whistleblower.

"I'm just getting it off my chest. It bothered me for a long time," he told the court.

King retired from the force earlier this year.

On Wednesday night, Saint John police issued a news release saying Chief John Bates has directed that a professional standards investigative file be opened on the allegation made in court about McCloskey.

The New Brunswick Police Commission and the Saint John Board of Police Commissioners have been made aware of the allegation, the release says.

"The chief will be in consultation with the NBPC with regard to conducting a thorough investigation into the allegation," it says.

McCloskey remains on active duty. The release says Bates would not offer any comment on testimony heard at the trial.

Under cross-examination Wednesday by defence lawyer Alan Gold, McCloskey acknowledged several missteps, including entering the crime scene twice on the day the body was discovered and possibly touching a door that could have been an escape route for the killer or killers.

"There were a lot of things we could have done better at the scene," said McCloskey.

McCloskey said he was an inspector in charge of the Criminal Investigations Department at the time of Oland's murder, and went into the Far End Corp. in a support role in case the investigating officers needed extra resources.

He told the court he observed the crime scene twice that day, entering Oland's office a short distance the first time, but later stepping between drops of blood to see into another room because he was curious.

He said he was there about a minute with another member of the police department when a forensic identification officer told them to leave.

"I was wrong, I shouldn't have been in there," McCloskey said. Gold said it was a professional disgrace to have the public hear what McCloskey did at the murder scene.

"I was embarrassed, for sure," McCloskey said.

However, when Gold asked if McCloskey had asked King to lie about it, McCloskey replied "No."

King also testified that McCloskey had a box of evidence from the Oland case in his office, but McCloskey said he doesn't recall that.

Gold asked McCloskey about the rear door from the murder scene that led to an alleyway behind the building. The defence has described the door as a possible escape route for the killer or killers.

A forensic identification officer earlier testified that someone had used the door before he could attempt to lift any fingerprints.

McCloskey said he used the door on July 7, 2011, and looked around the alleyway.

Under questioning by the defence McCloskey said he might have touched the door, and later said he could have opened it as well.

The courtroom was packed for McCloskey's testimony, including a number of lawyers who came to watch.

Court has heard that Richard Oland, a 69-year-old businessman, was struck more than 40 times in the head with a hammer-type instrument and a blade-like weapon. No murder weapon was ever found.