SURREY, B.C. (RICHA WALIA): A recent filing in the British Columbia Supreme Court has sparked renewed debate over the circumstances surrounding the dismissal of former Surrey Police Service Chief Constable Norm Lipinski, with Surrey First council candidate Bilal Cheema calling for greater transparency from Mayor Brenda Locke.
Lipinski is challenging his termination in court, alleging that political considerations influenced the decision and that the process did not comply with requirements under the Police Act and police board governance rules. The allegations remain subject to the court process and have not been judicially determined.
Cheema, a former member of the Surrey Police Board, said the claims raise questions about the separation between elected officials and independent police governance.
“The allegations outlined in the filing need to be addressed openly,” Cheema said, arguing that Surrey residents should have access to the relevant facts surrounding Lipinski’s removal.
The dispute follows earlier tensions between Locke and the Surrey Police Service. In September 2023, while serving as chair of the Surrey Police Board, Locke publicly said she had lost confidence in Lipinski and the board. The police board subsequently rejected her comments and expressed support for the chief.
Lipinski’s court filing alleges that Locke later told a Surrey Police Service member in August 2024 that the chief needed to be removed.
The situation subsequently changed in October 2025, when the Surrey Police Board renewed Lipinski’s contract for three years, a decision presented at the time as an indication of the board’s confidence in his leadership.
According to the filing, the composition of the police board changed in 2026, with four of its five newly appointed members having been recommended by the City of Surrey. Lipinski’s filing also raises questions about how those appointments were made.
Several months after the board’s change in composition, Lipinski was dismissed.
Cheema is now asking whether there were communications between Locke, her office or senior municipal officials and members of the police board concerning Lipinski’s performance, future or eventual termination.
“The court will determine the legal issues,” Cheema said, while emphasizing that he believes voters should understand the circumstances surrounding the dispute before the municipal election.
Linda Annis, the Surrey First candidate for mayor, also called for disclosure of information surrounding the matter. She said political leaders who supported decisions taken by the current administration should be prepared to explain their positions.
The allegations contained in Lipinski’s filing have yet to be tested in court. The proceedings are expected to examine the circumstances of his dismissal and the governance processes involved.
The controversy has placed renewed attention on the relationship between Surrey’s elected leadership, its police board and the Surrey Police Service, with questions about institutional independence likely to remain a focus as the legal case proceeds.
