Surrey Police Chief’s plea to postpone Cloverdale transition denied by B.C. government amid rising extortion cases, forcing full rollout by April 1.
Surrey Police Chief’s Request Denied by Province
The B.C. government has refused Surrey Police Chief Constable Norm Lipinski’s request to delay the police force’s full transition into Cloverdale. Lipinski had asked for a four-month extension, citing a surge in extortion crimes that has stretched the force’s resources.
“While this work is critical to protecting our community, it has significantly impacted our staffing capacity,” Lipinski said in a statement on Wednesday.
Extortion Surge Strains Police Resources
Surrey has been grappling with an unprecedented wave of extortion, forcing the redeployment of more than 40 officers into specialized investigative teams. Lipinski explained that this heavy focus has limited the department’s ability to expand its presence in Cloverdale while maintaining citywide coverage.
Despite these concerns, Glen Lewis, B.C.’s director of policing and law enforcement, confirmed that the Surrey Police Service (SPS) must fully police Cloverdale by April 1.
Transition Timeline
The SPS took over policing in Surrey from the RCMP in a phased rollout that began in November 2024. Initially, the service covered Whalley and Newton, followed by South Surrey in 2025. Cloverdale and Guildford were the last areas remaining.
Cloverdale alone requires roughly 70 officers. The original plan aimed to deploy the SPS in south Cloverdale in April and north Cloverdale in July, but the extortion crisis complicated staffing.
Political Backdrop and Funding
The transition has faced political hurdles. Former Mayor Doug McCallum approved the move to a municipal police force, but his successor, Brenda Locke, campaigned against it and initially tried to halt it. Despite local opposition, the B.C. government mandated the establishment of a city police department and contributed $250 million toward transition costs.
As of November 2025, the SPS had 583 sworn officers out of its target of 860, with full transition now expected in 2027.
Next Steps
Lipinski noted that discussions with the province, the Surrey Police Board, unions, and legal counsel are ongoing. “I will provide an update once these discussions are concluded,” he said, emphasizing the need to balance citywide policing with specialized extortion investigations.
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