Surrey police chief ousted after just six years
Norm Lipinski, first head of the city's municipal force, placed on leave and given until Thursday to resign or face termination.
Surrey Police Chief Norm Lipinski has until Thursday at 4 p.m. to resign or be terminated without cause, marking an abrupt end to his tenure as the first leader of the city's municipal police service.
Lipinski was placed on leave Monday morning following a police board meeting. He turned in his badge and left headquarters. Deputy Chief Todd Matsumoto has been appointed acting chief. The board has not disclosed why Lipinski is being forced out, and it remains unclear what severance package he might receive if he departs.
Lipinski led Surrey Police since its inception in 2020, taking over a force created as part of the city's transition away from RCMP coverage. Before joining SPS, he held senior roles across Canadian policing—deputy chief of Delta Police, deputy chief of Edmonton Police Service, and assistant commissioner of the RCMP—bringing over 45 years of experience to the role.
The timing reflects ongoing tension between Mayor Brenda Locke and the police force. Locke won office on a platform opposing the municipal transition, arguing the city should remain under RCMP jurisdiction, though courts ultimately dismissed her legal challenge in 2024. Recently, Locke criticized Lipinski for not doing enough to address rising gun violence and called for a review of the decision to suspend the gang crime unit.
The Surrey Police Service took full jurisdiction over the city in November 2024 and now controls every town centre except Guildford. A provincial request to accelerate the Cloverdale transition from July to April forced the service to reassign officers, including gang unit members, straining the newly formed force.