Five board members with less than 10 weeks on the job — submitted to the province by Mayor Locke for appointment — led behind close doors to fire Norm Lipinski. Surrey residents deserve to know who is really running Surrey’s police service.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, JUNE 2, 2026, SURREY B.C. — Mike Starchuk, mayoral candidate for Imagine Surrey, says Mayor Brenda Locke has once again destabilized the Surrey Police Service transition — this time by enabling her newly constituted Surrey Police Board to fire Chief Norm Lipinski — after meetings held predominantly behind closed doors, with 5 new Locke-preferred Board members leading the charge.
This is not the first time Mayor Locke’s decisions have thrown Surrey’s policing transition into turmoil. It is part of a pattern — and Surrey families who were promised stability and safer streets continue to pay the price.
Her Actions. Her Board. Her Responsibility.
Mayor Locke recommended the province appoint five new, governance-experienced members to the Surrey Police Board in March of this year. These are her appointees. This is her board. And in fewer than ten weeks that board, after meeting twice in May behind closed doors, is set to fire the Chief of Police by 4pm on Thursday of this week.
The meeting record is brief and troubling:
- May 29: A second unscheduled meeting was called. It was held predominantly in closed session.
- April 30: Initial board meeting held. The next meeting was formally scheduled for June 17, 2026.
- May 12: An unscheduled meeting was called. The agenda appears limited to a budget review. The majority of the meeting was held in closed session.
In fewer than 10 weeks, Mayor Locke’s newly constituted Police Board will fire the Chief of one of the most important, complex police services in British Columbia. The only people who appear to carry any meaningful board experience are the mayor’s new appointees. Surrey residents are entitled to ask: did these experienced members lead inexperienced ones into this decision?
“Mayor Locke has been swinging a wrecking ball over Surrey’s police transition since day one. Now her hand-picked board — with less than 10 weeks of formal experience — has fired the Chief of Police behind closed doors. Surrey families deserve to know who is really driving decisions at the Surrey Police Board.”
— Mike Starchuk, Imagine Surrey Candidate for Mayor
Mayor Locke’s Fingerprints All Over This Decision
Mayor Locke was responsible for constituting the new Surrey Police Board. She recommended the appointment of its 5 new members. The only individuals who appear to carry any prior policing governance experience are her appointees — so in a room where five member had fewer than 10 weeks in place, the direction of these Locke-preferred members held enormous weight.
Imagine Surrey says this raises a direct and legitimate question: did Mayor Locke’s appointees lead a board of newcomers to a conclusion that served the mayor’s interests, rather than Surrey’s? The mayor cannot recommend 5 board appointments, swamp the inexperienced members with influence and perhaps more, and then claim no responsibility when that board makes one of the most significant policing decisions in the city’s history.
Mayor Locke appointed this board. Her newly appointed, experienced members sat at that table. And now Chief Lipinski is gone. Surrey families who were promised a stable, professional, and independent police service are watching yet another chapter of chaos unfold — and once again, the mayor cannot point the finger anywhere but in the mirror.
Imagine Surrey Demands Answers from Mayor Locke
Imagine Surrey is calling directly on Mayor Brenda Locke and the Surrey Police Board to answer to Surrey residents:
- Mayor Locke must publicly explain what she knew, when she knew it, and whether she or any of her staff communicated with police board members about Chief Lipinski’s employment prior to his dismissal.
- The Surrey Police Board must release a full public accounting of the timeline and rationale, including what was discussed in closed session and why two unscheduled meetings were called ahead of the regularly scheduled June 17th date.
- Commit to an open, competitive, and fully transparent process for the appointment of an interim and permanent Chief of Police.
- Ensure the Surrey Police Board receives appropriate governance training and support to fulfill its duties independently, free from political interference.
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“Safe streets require stable, accountable, and transparent policing governance. Mayor Locke’s wrecking ball approach has cost Surrey so much time, money and security, and now it’s the Chief of Police. Surrey families have had enough. Imagine Surrey will restore integrity and stability to public safety in this city.”
— Mike Starchuk
About Imagine Surrey
Imagine Surrey is a civic party of experienced frontline workers, community advocates and professionals running a full slate in the October 17, 2026 Surrey municipal election to make Surrey the City of Champions. Led by Mike Starchuk, Imagine Surrey is committed to safe streets, fast commutes, smart investments, lower costs and strong services: change that works for you.
Council candidates: Yousef Aldabainah, Chandan Chahal, Perminder Chohan, Narima Dela Cruz, Ashiyana Hanif, William Li, Dr. Margaret Mubanda, and Kevin Wilkie.
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