Ousted Surrey Police Chief Thanks Officers After Sudden Departure

Olivia Singh

6/4/20262 min read

Former Surrey Police Service chief Norm Lipinski has thanked officers in a letter sent to union members following his sudden departure from the force.

In the letter, Lipinski said helping build the Surrey Police Service was the proudest achievement of his nearly five-decade policing career. He also claimed he was called into a meeting with the Surrey Police Board on his first day back from vacation and told his employment was being terminated without cause.

“While this is not the way I hoped my time with the Surrey Police Service would come to an end, I leave with immense pride in what we have accomplished together under extraordinarily challenging circumstances,” the letter reads.

First Chief of Surrey Police Service

Lipinski’s departure was announced by the Surrey Police Board on Tuesday.

He was the first chief of the Surrey Police Service, which has been responsible for taking over policing duties from the Surrey RCMP in B.C.’s second-largest city by population.

Deputy Chief Const. Todd Matsumoto has been appointed interim chief constable while the board prepares to begin recruiting a permanent replacement.

The board has not yet publicly provided a reason for Lipinski’s departure.

Board Chair Resigns After Departure

Surrey Police Board chair Harley Chappell resigned after Lipinski’s departure.

Chappell said he did not believe Lipinski was given a fair chance and said the former chief’s vision for the Surrey Police Service was never fully able to come to fruition.

He pointed to several major pressures facing the force, including extortion cases, gang-related shootings and the ongoing transition away from the RCMP as the city’s police of jurisdiction.

Letter Praises Officers’ Work

In his letter to union members, Lipinski thanked officers for their “professionalism, dedication and resilience.”

He wrote that organizations succeed because of the people within them and praised the partnerships and relationships built during his time with the force.

“It’s been an honour to serve alongside of you and I am grateful for the partnerships we built, the laughs we shared, and the great policing service we provide,” the letter reads.

“It has truly been the privilege of a lifetime.”

Long Policing Career

According to his biography on the Surrey Police Service website, Lipinski previously spent five years as deputy chief of the Delta Police Department and 32 years with the Edmonton Police Service, where he also served as deputy chief.

He also spent time as an assistant commissioner with the RCMP.

Policing experts have described his departure as a shock and a surprise. It remains unclear how the leadership change will affect Surrey’s ongoing transition from the RCMP to the Surrey Police Service.

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