A swelling wave of public outrage in Surrey has pushed a new petition into the spotlight, as more than 1,000 residents sign their names calling for Surrey Police Service (SPS) Chief Constable Norm Lipinski to step down. The surge — happening within days — reflects one of the city’s strongest public mobilizations in recent years.
Violence and Fear Reach a Breaking Point
Residents say they’ve reached their limit.
Daily shootings, intimidation, and extortion attempts have left families and businesses on edge. Surrey has recorded close to 100 extortion-related cases this year, including 44 involving gunfire, with multiple homes shot at repeatedly in targeted attacks linked to organized crime networks.
That reality — playing out in neighbourhoods across the city — has left residents demanding accountability and a stronger, clearer plan for their safety.
Community Frustration Boils Over
Tension escalated during recent town halls where police and local officials faced tough, emotional questions from worried residents.
Even SPS Police Board members acknowledged the gravity of the moment.
Board Director Bilal Cheema summed up the community’s frustration bluntly:
“There’s a lot of worry, there’s a lot of fear… When I hear the chief say we’re reaching our capacity, I don’t feel the criminals are reaching theirs — and that concerns the hell out of me.”
Residents say communication has been vague, surveillance footage takes too long to review, and the visible police presence on the ground has not matched the scale of the crisis.
The Petition: A Call for New Leadership
The petition, which crossed the 1,000-signature mark this week, states that Surrey now needs “new leadership to restore confidence and lead the SPS with transparency.”
Supporters say this is not a partisan move — it’s about safety, results, and rebuilding trust. Many signatories point to:
- Slow investigative follow-up
- Limited public updates
- Repeated shootings in the same neighbourhoods
- Lack of clarity on preventive policing strategies
For many, the shooting spree has made one thing clear: residents no longer feel safe in their own homes.
SPS Board Renews Lipinski’s Contract
Despite the growing public pushback, the Surrey Police Board recently chose to renew Chief Lipinski’s contract, citing his four decades of policing experience and the complexity of Surrey’s massive transition from RCMP to a municipal police service.
The Board maintains confidence in his leadership and says the SPS remains committed to community-based, accountable policing.
BC RCMP Boost Resources as Crisis Deepens
The province has also stepped in.
BC RCMP announced an increase in specialized units — including emergency response teams, highway patrol, and gang-focused investigators — to support extortion and shooting investigations across the Lower Mainland. Surrey has also offered a $250,000 reward for information leading to convictions.
But with public trust eroding and pressure mounting, residents say leadership changes at the top of SPS are overdue.
The Road Ahead
As the petition continues to grow, Surrey’s message is unmistakable:
residents want safety, transparency, and leadership that reflects the urgency of the crisis.
Whether the petition will drive change remains to be seen — but the public pressure shows no sign of slowing.
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