Former Surrey Police Chief Norm Lipinski Says No Reason Was Given for Dismissal

Former Surrey Police Service (SPS) Chief Norm Lipinski has publicly addressed his dismissal for the first time, saying he was not provided with a clear reason for the decision.

In a letter to SPS employees, Lipinski said he had returned to work early from vacation and was called into a Surrey Police Board meeting on his first day back. According to the letter, board members informed him that his employment was being terminated but did not provide a specific explanation for the decision.

Lipinski wrote that he had not expected his tenure with the service to end in this manner. He said he remains proud of what SPS members accomplished together under challenging circumstances and expressed gratitude to employees for their work and commitment.

The Surrey Police Board has appointed Deputy Chief Constable Todd Matsumoto as interim chief while a search for a permanent replacement is undertaken.

Questions also remain about the financial implications of the dismissal. Under the terms of Lipinski's employment contract, Surrey taxpayers could face a severance obligation worth hundreds of thousands of dollars or more. The board has not publicly disclosed the amount of compensation, if any, that Lipinski will receive.