TORONTO - Guiliano Zaccardelli, former RCMP commissioner, told his ethics adviser he was making too much noise about dubious management in the department that handles the force's pension fund, a government committee has heard.

John Spice testified yesterday that he warned Zaccardelli of unethical behaviour by senior Mounties even before an internal audit showed mismanagement of more than $3 million in pension funds.

Spice said Zaccadelli told him to back off.

Zaccardelli appointed Spice to the ethics position in 2002.

Spice says he found fear and secrecy inside the RCMP's National Compensation Policy Centre.

He says workers were terrified of reporting abuses by their bosses.

Spice told the House committee on public accounts: "The commissioner spoke to me one day and said: `John, some of the commanding officers and the deputies think you're involved too much.'''

"They really don't understand the role of the senior officer for internal wrongdoing in the workplace.'''

John Spice testified yesterday that he warned Zaccardelli of unethical behaviour by senior Mounties even before an internal audit showed mismanagement of more than $3 million in pension funds.

Spice said Zaccadelli told him to back off.

Zaccardelli appointed Spice to the ethics position in 2002.

Spice says he found fear and secrecy inside the RCMP's National Compensation Policy Centre.

He says workers were terrified of reporting abuses by their bosses.

Spice told the House committee on public accounts: "The commissioner spoke to me one day and said: `John, some of the commanding officers and the deputies think you're involved too much.'''

"They really don't understand the role of the senior officer for internal wrongdoing in the workplace.'''