Surrey Police Service Chief Norm Lipinski says he doesn't take direction from city council, which has asked for a hiring freeze.
Surrey Police Service Chief Norm Lipinski says he will continue moving forward with the city’s police transition plan until directed otherwise by the Surrey Police Board.
Mayor Brenda Locke, the board’s new chair, spearheaded the move after being narrowly elected on Oct. 15, defeating SPS architect Doug McCallum. “We have to look at who has the lawful authority for giving instruction,” said Lipinski, who added he is hopeful a decision will come from the ministry within two months.
And while the situation presents an “utterly fascinating” political quandary, it “doesn’t help the people of Surrey” and “it must be very confusing for the officers of the two police forces,” said Gordon. Every two months Lipinski said he is adding about 30 to 35 SPS officers. There will come a point in time when SPS officers outnumber Mounties, who would then fall under the jurisdiction of the SPS, as the Surrey RCMP winds down.
The City of Surrey says it’s already estimating cost overruns of over $20 million this year due to administrative overlap.
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