LETTER: A turning point in Surrey’s policing transition
Published 6:00 pm Monday, April 6, 2026
Editor,
As Surrey marks a significant turning point with the Surrey Police Service assuming responsibility in Cloverdale, I find myself reflecting not only on the moment itself, but on the tone of leadership and civic engagement that has shaped the path here.
It is encouraging to see voices in our community approach this transition with a sense of respect, pragmatism, and gratitude. Change, particularly at this scale, is never without its challenges. Yet acknowledging the efforts of those working to build something new, rather than endlessly revisiting old divisions, is the kind of steady leadership Surrey deserves.
What has struck me most in recent weeks, however, is the sudden quiet from certain corners that were once anything but. Groups that loudly opposed the transition, often resorting to personal attacks and inflammatory rhetoric, now seem notably absent following the court’s direction to move forward. The contrast is difficult to ignore. It raises an uncomfortable but necessary question about accountability in public discourse.
Debate is healthy in any democracy, but it carries a responsibility. When disagreement crosses into division, when advocacy turns into hostility, and when communities are left more fractured than before, it does a disservice to everyone. Surrey is far too diverse and forward looking to be defined by that kind of discourse.
We now have an opportunity to move ahead. Not by erasing differing opinions, but by elevating the standard of how we engage with one another. A modern city requires not only modern policing, but also a civic culture grounded in respect, integrity, and a willingness to move forward together.
This moment should not be about who “won” or “lost,” but about what kind of city we choose to be from here on.
Sincerely,
Michael Bardouniotis, Surrey