Former Surrey mayor demanding change at Surrey Police Board

Mayoral candidate Doug McCallum has filed a formal complaint against the chair of Surrey’s police board following the firing of the city’s police chief.

Former Surrey mayor demanding change at Surrey Police Board

Former Surrey mayor and current mayoral candidate Doug McCallum has filed a formal complaint with the province, seeking to have Coun. Rob Stutt removed from the Surrey Police Board.

This comes in the wake of the firing of police chief Norm Lipinski.

“I want a full investigation by an independent police force on the firing of our police chief,” says McCallum.

The former mayor penned a letter to Premier David Eby and Solicitor General Nina Krieger saying the decision requires their attention and that the province is the only authority with the legal power to act.

He’s also taking aim at Stutt, saying he was elected on a platform to keep the RCMP in the city, and should not be a sitting member of the police board.

“He worked with (Mayor) Brenda Locke to try to do away with their transition and then both of them took it to court against the province to stop the transition,” says McCallum.

Krieger issued a statement to CTV News saying the province has no authority in the matter and the decision is now up to the board.

Eby was also asked about the situation on Thursday and sang a similar tune.

“To the best of our knowledge they followed all the processes they were supposed to around the Police Act,” said Eby.

Locke has insisted Lipinski’s departure after five years in the role has nothing to do with her, and has wished him well.

Since Lipinski’s ousting, the city’s police board has seen significant changes with the resignations of former chair Harley Chappell and member James Carwana earlier this month.

“I do not support this motion and feel it to be in violation of our governance policies and provincial Police Act,” said Chappell in a statement to CTV News.

The reasons behind the firing remain unknown and questions are being asked by many, including Coun. Linda Annis, another mayoral hopeful.

Annis penned a letter to Locke released Friday morning, asking for transparency around the decision.

“It is only fair to our fellow citizens of Surrey that you provide some answers and details, particularly when so much is at stake for our city and the safety of our residents and businesses,” wrote Annis.

In the letter, she accused of Locke being actively involved in the decision, referencing Locke’s “hand-picked” police board and $47 million cut to the SPS budget.

The police board also issued a statement today, saying it’s launching a comprehensive recruitment process for the next chief, including bringing on an executive search firm to advise.

The board also says it plans to elect current director Perm Jawanda as the next chair at the board’s next meeting.

Meanwhile, McCallum claims the province does have authority in the matter and plans on continuing to call for action.

McCallum, who served as Surrey’s mayor from 1996-2005 and again from 2018-2022, is seeking another term as mayor in the upcoming civic election on Oct. 17.

With files from CTV News Vancouver’s Yasmin Gandham