Norm Lipinski, the former chief of the Surrey Police Service, told police union members in a letter after he was let go that building a new police service was the proudest achievement of his nearly five-decade-long policing career.
The letter was sent to Surrey Police Union members, and CBC News has confirmed it was received by members on Wednesday.
Lipinski claims he was called into a meeting with the Surrey Police Board on his first day back from vacation, and he was told that his employment was being terminated without cause.
“While this is not the way I hoped my time with the Surrey Police Service would come to an end, I leave with immense pride in what we have accomplished together under extraordinarily challenging circumstances,” the letter reads.
The departure of Lipinski was announced by the Surrey Police Board on Tuesday. He was the first chief of the SPS, which was tasked with taking over from the Surrey RCMP as the police force for B.C.’s second-largest city by population.
Deputy Chief Const. Todd Matsumoto has been appointed as interim chief constable, according to the Surrey Police Board, whose chair Harley Chappell resigned after Lipinski’s departure.
Chappell told CBC News that he didn’t think Lipinski was given a fair shake, and that his vision for the SPS was never able to come to fruition — due to crises like a rash of extortion cases, gang-related shootings and the pressure to complete the transition away from the RCMP as the police of jurisdiction.
Lipinski has not responded to CBC News’ requests for comment.
In the letter sent to union members, he thanked them for their “professionalism, dedication and resilience” and said organizations succeeded because of the people who cared about one another.
“It’s been an honour to serve alongside of you and I am grateful for the partnerships we built, the laughs we shared, and the great policing service we provide,” the letter reads.
“It has truly been the privilege of a lifetime.”
Lipinski’s biography on the SPS website says he previously spent five years as deputy chief of the Delta Police Department and 32 years as deputy chief of the Edmonton Police Service.
He also spent time as an assistant commissioner with the RCMP.
The police board has said it will soon begin the recruitment process for a new permanent chief.
Policing experts called Lipinski’s departure, for which the police board has not yet provided a reason, a shock and a surprise.
It’s unclear exactly how his departure will affect the transition away from the RCMP.