Police watchdog investigated cops in Surrey 23 times in past year

B.C.’s police watchdog investigated Surrey cops 23 times in the past reporting year, according to its annual report.

The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. says it launched eight investigations involving Surrey RCMP officers and 13 involving the Surrey Police Service. Two more investigations were launched in Surrey involving other policing agencies. 

By comparison, the IIO launched 48 investigations involving the Vancouver Police Department.

The IIO is a civilian-led police oversight agency responsible for investigating incidents involving any officer or detention guard that results in death or serious harm.

This year’s key trends overall, according to the IIO report, include the continued overrepresentation of Indigenous Peoples in IIO investigations, a slight drop in notifications from police, an increase in the number of new investigations, and fewer police-involved shootings compared to the past two years.

Indigenous Peoples represent just under 6% of B.C.’s population, yet account for 16 per cent of individuals involved in IIO investigations, indicating continued overrepresentation, said the IIO.

In 2025-2026, the IIO:

• Commencing 195 new investigations
• Concluding 48 investigations by releasing a public report
• Concluding 34 investigations by issuing a concluding media release
• Prior to a change in reporting practice, the IIO referred seven investigations to the BC Prosecution Service for consideration of charges.

Of the 195 investigations opened in the 2025-2026 fiscal year, 144 (74%) were classified as serious harm and 51 (26%) were classified as death.