Surrey Police Transition to Proceed Despite Chief’s Safety Concerns

SURREY, B.C. – The provincial government has officially rejected a request from Surrey Police Service (SPS) Chief Constable Norm Lipinski to pause the city’s policing transition, ordering the force to move forward with its next expansion phase this spring.

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The Standoff

Chief Lipinski had sought a four-month delay for the transition of the Cloverdale district, citing an “unprecedented” wave of extortion cases that has stretched his department thin. He argued that the surge in organized crime required his officers to remain on specialized task forces rather than moving into local patrol roles.

The Province’s Stance

Despite these staffing concerns, the B.C. Ministry of Public Safety has held firm:

• The Deadline: SPS must take full command of District 4 (Cloverdale) by April 1, 2026.
• The Rationale: Minister Nina Krieger expressed confidence in the current plan, stating that the RCMP is available to provide “bridge support” to ensure no gaps in public safety occur during the handover.

Impact of the Extortion Crisis

The tension comes as Surrey grapples with over 50 active extortion investigations involving threats and gunfire against local business owners. While the province has denied the delay, it recently launched a new Community Advisory Group to help the SPS and RCMP coordinate their response to these specific crimes.