Surrey police chief ousted on eve of transition deadline

The Surrey Police Service will be getting a new police chief after Chief Const. Norm Lipinski “left” – less than a year after his contract was renewed and just months after five new police board members were added by the provincial government.

Deputy Chief Constable Todd Matsumoto has been appointed Interim Chief Constable, and a search has been launched by the police board to find a replacement for Lipinski.

“We want to assure our partners and all community members that we remain focused on protecting public safety and providing uninterrupted service delivery to the community,” said a brief statement from the Surrey Police Board. “We are confident in the leadership team of SPS, and in the continued professionalism of all SPS personnel.”

The police board has not said if Lipinski resigned or was fired, and did not comment on what, if any, severance he might receive.

Police board chair Harley Chappell, however, immediately quit the board on Tuesday, saying Lipinski was fired at a meeting Monday that didn’t include him.

“I do not support this motion and feel it to be in violation of our governance policies and provincial police act,” Chappell said in a letter.

Candidates running against Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke put the blame for the situation on her.

“The mayor has treated the SPS like a political football, and that has to be hard on the men and women of our police department,” said Surrey Coun. Linda Annis. “Chief Lipinski and the men and women of the SPS have done an incredible job in the face of the mayor’s constant opposition, interference and budget cuts. Instead of being a champion for our local police service, the mayor has been its biggest opponent, and the termination of Chief Lipinski is one more example of how she puts politics ahead of public safety.”

Locke issued a brief statement and did not detail why Lipinski is gone.

“I want to thank Chief Lipinski for his service to the City and the Surrey Police Service over the last five years,” Locke said. “As mayor, my focus remains public safety, and I look forward to working with Interim Chief Todd Matsumoto during this transition period. I am confident that the Surrey Police Board has a plan in place that will continue to prioritize keeping our neighbourhoods safe, while supporting the SPS to become a Canadian leader in trusted, modern, and responsive policing.”

The province allowed the terms of several police board members to expire and then appointed five new members back in February. Premier David Eby said that eventually the entire board could be “replaced” and that the appointments were done in “co-operation” with Locke.

“Mayor Locke has been swinging a wrecking ball over Surrey’s police transition since day one,” said Mike Starchuk, who is running for mayor under the Imagine Surrey banner. “Now her hand-picked board — with less than 10 weeks of formal experience — has fired the Chief of Police behind closed doors. Surrey families deserve to know who is really driving decisions at the Surrey Police Board.”

This all comes as the SPS is set to take over the entire city in November, a date that the RCMP announced would be when it would pull out. The SPS still needs hundreds of officers to boost its ranks.
On Oct. 24, 2025, the police board announced that Lipinski had had his contract renewed for another three-year term, with an option for renewal for another two years.

The Surrey Police Union said in a letter to its members that its members have been kept in the dark.

“The fact that the Union is being left to learn about these developments through rumours and media reports rather than direct communication is disappointing and raises serious questions about transparency,” union president Ryan Buhrig wrote.

Lipinski was selected as SPS’s first Chief Constable in late 2020. Over the past five years, Lipinski led SPS through the largest and most complex policing transition in Canadian history, which has involved hiring more than 600 police officers.

“Chief Norm Lipinski provides stability, thoughtful leadership, dedication to the people of Surrey, and a commitment to deliver modern, inclusive and accountable community-based policing,” Surrey Police Board Chair Harley Chappell said when Lipinski had his contract renewed. “This extension of Chief Lipinski’s mandate is a clear expression of the Board’s confidence in him and his commitment to providing a top-tier police service for Surrey.”

Lipinski has served in large, urban municipalities, including Edmonton Police Service, RCMP “E” Division, and Delta Police Department. His educational background includes a Bachelor of Laws Degree and a Master of Business Administration.

These are the five newest members of the police board:

• Jaswinder (Jessie) Sidhu, regional vice-president, Bank of Montreal
• George Duncan, former chief administrative officer, Richmond
• Hanne Madsen, former executive director, Big Sisters of B.C. – Lower Mainland
• Larry Thomas, former chief, Surrey Fire Services
• Parminder (Perm) Jawanda, former vice-president, Rogers Communications

These members joinined Surrey police board chair Harley Chappell, provincial appointee James Carwana, and Surrey council appointees Archie Johnston and Rob Stutt on the police board.