Surrey, B.C. (Rajeev Sharma): Former Surrey Police Service Chief Constable Norm Lipinski has taken his dismissal to the British Columbia Supreme Court, seeking a judicial review of the decision that ended his tenure in June.
Lipinski’s court filing alleges that his termination was influenced by political considerations unrelated to his conduct or performance. The allegations have not yet been proven in court.
The development has become a political issue in Surrey, with mayoral candidate Linda Annis criticizing Mayor Brenda Locke and the Surrey Police Board over their handling of the city’s policing transition and Lipinski’s departure.
Annis alleges that Locke’s administration repeatedly opposed or delayed the transition from the RCMP to the Surrey Police Service. She has also raised concerns about the board’s decision to terminate Lipinski and questioned the transparency surrounding his departure and severance.
Lipinski had served as Surrey’s police chief since 2020 and played a central role in the transition to the Surrey Police Service. The police board announced on June 2 that he had left the organization and appointed Deputy Chief Constable Todd Matsumoto as interim chief. The board did not provide detailed reasons for Lipinski’s departure at the time.
The former chief’s legal challenge also raises questions about whether proper procedures were followed before the termination. According to reports on the court filing, Lipinski says he was not given adequate notice or an opportunity to respond before the decision was made.
The case comes amid continuing debate over the future of policing in Surrey. The city’s transition from the RCMP to the Surrey Police Service has been the subject of prolonged political and legal disputes, while SPS became Surrey’s police service in November 2024.
Annis has also criticized the cancellation of a September Surrey Police Board meeting, arguing that residents should have an opportunity to question the board about Lipinski’s departure and the search for his permanent replacement. The board has said it began the recruitment process for a new chief after Lipinski’s departure.
The court proceedings will determine how Lipinski’s claims are addressed and whether the circumstances surrounding his termination require further action.
