Surrey Police Board Removes Chief Constable Norm Lipinski Amid Leadership Shakeup and Political Scrutiny

SURREY, BC — In a major governance shift, the Surrey Police Board announced the removal of Chief Constable Norm Lipinski from his position leading the Surrey Police Service (SPS), stating that the service requires new leadership as it enters its final transition phase from the RCMP.

Board Resignation and Executive Severance Scrutiny

The unexpected termination triggered the immediate resignation of Surrey Police Board Chair Harley Chappell, who criticized the board’s decision-making process. Opposition councillors Linda Annis (Surrey First) and Doug Elford (Safe Surrey Coalition) demanded complete transparency regarding the terms of Chief Lipinski’s severance package and called on Mayor Brenda Locke to clarify the role of the municipal administration in the board's decision.

Mayor Locke reaffirmed that the Police Board operates independently under provincial statute and that city council's priority remains public safety and fiscal accountability for Surrey residents.

Union and Community Reaction

The Surrey Police Union issued statements emphasizing stability for frontline officers during the leadership transition.

Former mayor Doug McCallum called for an independent provincial review into the circumstances surrounding the termination.

Interim Police Leadership Search

The Surrey Police Board has commenced an executive search for an interim chief constable to oversee ongoing frontline deployments.