Former Surrey Police Chief Norm Lipinski has filed a legal petition against the Surrey Police Board seeking a judicial review of his dismissal.
He was hired in 2020 as the first chief of the Surrey Police Service and in 2025, had his contract extended for another three years.
But on June 1, he was suddenly terminated, just over two months after a police board shake-up.
He claims his firing was “unlawful and invalid” and the result of political interference by a mayor who wanted to keep the RCMP.
“The purported termination was motivated by extraneous political considerations, disconnected from Chief Lipinski’s conduct or competence and was not conducted in accordance with the common law, the Police Act, or the board’s own governance requirements,” the documents state.
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None of Lipinski’s claims have been proven in court.
In a statement, the Surrey Police Board said it is aware that Lipinski has filed a petition in B.C. Supreme Court.
“The Board is reviewing and considering the matter and will respond in the normal course,” the statement reads.
“Because this matter involves a former employee and is before the Court, the Board will not be commenting publicly. The Surrey Police Board’s top priority is public safety, and we are actively in the process of recruiting a new Chief Constable to support the Surrey Police Service into this next critical phase of operation.”
A statement from Surrey Connect, Mayor Brenda Locke’s party, said the mayor and the City of Surrey “have no say in decisions related to staffing at the Surrey Police Service.
“Only the Surrey Police Board, which is independent of the Mayor and the City, can make decisions related to staffing.”
More to come.
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