Ex-Surrey police chief blames firing on ‘political’ reasons, ask court to overturn

Former Surrey Police Service Chief Const. Norm Lipinski has requested a judicial review in BC Supreme Court, asking the court to set aside the termination of his $375,000-a-year contract by alleging that it was done for “political or extraneous reasons.”

Lipinski names both the Surrey Police Board and the B.C. Ministry of Attorney General in court papers filed on Monday, saying that he was terminated on June 1 “without cause.” The documents include copies of his employment contracts, including the one from October 2025 that says he would be owed at least 18 months’ pay for the termination.

“The purported termination was motivated by extraneous political considerations, disconnected from Chief Lipinski’s conduct or competence, and was not conducted in accordance with the common law, the Police Act, or the Board’s own governance requirements,” reads the court petition.

“The Board meeting where the Board, or members of the Board, determined to terminate Chief Lipinski was convened through misrepresentations to the chair of the Board intended to mislead the chair as to the purpose of the meeting an induce him to not attend the meeting.”

The Surrey Police Board has refused to say publicly why Lipinski was fired or how much severance he would receive. 

Lipinski’s court filing, however, includes a letter he received from the board saying that on top of the 18 months of salary, he would receive another three months of base pay. The board also said it would negotiate with Lipinski on a public statement about why he was leaving that includes options that are not truthful.

“The Board will issue a mutually acceptable statement for communication to SPS staff and the general public about the reason for your departure, to be negotiated between us,” reads the letter from the board. “You can characterize it to staff and the public as a retirement, a resignation or your decision to move on to other opportunities. A proposed draft public statement and staff message is attached.”

The board letter also gives reasons for his termination.

“While not required to give reasons, the Board’s decision was based on (a) issues with the overall management and oversight of the SPS, (b) gaps in organizational leadership affecting operational performance and morale, (c) challenges in meeting the strategic objectives and priorities set by the Board, and (d) challenges in the financial management of the organization, a misalignment with Board-approved priorities,” reads the letter from the board, dated June 1.

Lipinski says in his court filing that these reasons were news to him, as he had only received positive feedback from the board, and was given the three-year extension only a few months earlier. 

“I had received positive performance reviews over five years, which contrasts with the apparent concerns arising in the 10-week period between the appointment of the new board members and the decision to terminate me,” Lipinski said in his court filing. 

“Apart from the lack of notice, the stated concerns did not have any empirical backing or logical foundation. They are not based on any proper review or feedback process.”

Lipinski is blaming the change in the makeup of the police board, in which the province added new members in the weeks prior to his firing.

“I recently learned, as a result of a request made under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, that four of the five members of the Board who were appointed in 2026 (and apparently supported my termination) were ‘recommended’ by the City of Surrey, and their resumes were submitted directly to the Provincial Government – apparently without any open posting or competition,” Lipinski says in his court filing.

Lipinski details Mayor Brenda Locke’s efforts to halt the SPS transition that included court challenges.

Lipinski said in his court filing that he encountered strong resistance from the RCMP during his time as Chief Constable.

“RCMP members were unwilling to work in blended RCMP/SPS teams,” Lipinski alleges.

Lipinski says in court documents that he was hired in 2020 at a base salary of 285,000, and that it was raised to $320,000 in 2024, and then $375,000 when he agreed to a three-year extension in 2025.

“When I accepted the appointment as Chief Constable of the SPS, my understanding was that I would be judged on merit and performance,” Lipinski says in an affidavit. “I expected that I would have the autonomy to carry out my duties without political influence. I expected that I would be disciplined or terminated (which is the highest form of discipline that a police officer in British Columbia can face under the Police Act) only if I misconducted myself or failed to effectively perform my duties as Chief Constable.”

Lipinski said he “rarely” took vacation days and never took sick days, and took on the challenge to build an entirely new police department from scratch. 

“I put absolutely everything I had into” the job, Lipiniski said. “This was the most demanding role of my career, and I enjoyed the challenge.”