Full Breakdown
Former Surrey Police Chief Challenges Dismissal in Court
By Drooid · · How we work
Dismissal and Court Petition
Former Surrey Police Service (Surrey Police Service's (SPS)) chief Norm Lipinski was terminated on June 1. Less than ten weeks after the provincial government, in consultation with the City of Surrey, replaced five members of the Surrey Police Board, the board voted to end Lipinski’s employment. In a petition filed in the British Columbia Supreme Court, Lipinski argues that the termination was unlawful, void under provincial law, and motivated by political considerations unrelated to his conduct or competence. The petition seeks to have the dismissal reversed and to restore his independent office as chief constable.
Background and Governance Context
Lipinski was hired in 2020 as the SPS’s first chief and received a three-year contract extension in 2025. The petition notes that he underwent more than half a dozen performance reviews, including an external “360 review” in the spring of 2025 that gathered feedback from 17 internal and external participants, all of which were described as exceptional. The petition further alleges that the Surrey Police Board failed to follow its own statutory procedures, did not provide notice or an opportunity to respond, and acted without a statutory authority to dismiss a chief constable without cause. It also claims that Mayor Brenda Locke, elected in 2022 on a platform to reverse the SPS transition, repeatedly undermined Lipinski and sought his removal, including a reported conversation in mid-2024 in which she expressed a desire to “get rid of Chief Lipinski.”
Official Statements & Responses
The Surrey Police Board acknowledged awareness of the petition and said it is reviewing the matter, emphasizing that public safety and the recruitment of a new chief remain top priorities. The board declined to comment publicly because the case is before the court. A statement from Surrey Connect, the mayor’s political organization, asserted that the mayor and the City of Surrey have no authority over staffing decisions at the SPS, which are the sole responsibility of the independent police board.
Implications and Next Steps
If the court finds the dismissal unlawful, it could reaffirm the statutory protections for police chiefs under the B.C. Police Act and limit board authority to terminate without cause. The outcome may also influence ongoing political dynamics in Surrey, where the mayor is seeking re-election. The board has indicated that it will continue its recruitment process for a new chief while the legal challenge proceeds.
