Surrey police chief looks forward to ‘rare opportunity’ with transition
Posted July 19, 2023 4:36 pm.
The chief of the Surrey Police Service (SPS) says he is looking forward to continuing the transition away from the RCMP.
Norm Lipinski spoke to reporters just hours after B.C. Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth issued the decision on Wednesday.
“This is a rare opportunity to redefine policing for Surrey,” he said.
“We recognize that the long-standing debate on the future of policing in Surrey has caused some division in the community. But it is my hope that we can now come together and focus on continuing to build a modern police service for this growing city.”
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Lipinski, who was appointed chief of the new police agency in 2020, says he’s hopeful the controversy surrounding the decision won’t seep into further discussions as the SPS continues its rollout.
“I’m optimistic that Mayor Locke and council will work collaboratively with the SPS and the SPS board to deliver the highest levels of public safety during and after the policing transition,” he said.
“Today’s final decision by the provincial government marks the end of years of uncertainty, and now it’s time to move ahead. The more efficient and effective we can be in completing this transition in a timely fashion, the more fiscally responsible this project will be for Surrey.”
When asked about the biggest differences between the SPS and the RCMP, Lipinski pointed to better accountability within a municipal policing model.
“I think with the Surrey Police Board, the level of accountability is different in a municipal policing environment. I report to a policing board, they oversee the finances, they oversee policy, they oversee strategic direction. I think that local accountability is so important in a large organization. I also think that we can respond very quickly to community needs,” he said.
He also says the SPS will be able to provide more stable employment than the Mounties could.
“When the Surrey Police Service hires recruits, they stay for 25 years. So you have these long-term police officers in a predictable staffing plan that stays and understands and gets to know the community. I think that’s so important in this day and age of public trust in policing,” he noted.
Lipinski also hinted that officer-worn cameras could be coming in the future, saying that he is open to the idea.
“To the residents of Surrey, I want to say thank you. Thank you for your patience and thank you for your support. We are truly honoured to be bringing a new era of policing to the citizens of Surrey,” he said.
