SPS Chief Constable Norm Lipinski flanked by Acting Inspector Kerry Blades and Superintendent Lav Mangat.
Photo: SPS

SURREY Police Service (SPS) Chief Constable Norn Lipinski says in a message for March / April that the SPS plans to hire an additional 200 members by the end of 2027.

He also states that Surrey has seen a decline in extortion reports and extortion related violence over the past two months.

 

Here is Lipinski’s message:

 

AS we move into spring, I’m pleased to share several important updates on the continued progress of Surrey Police Service (SPS) as we continue to advance the policing transition and grow Surrey’s municipal police service.

April 1 marked another milestone in Surrey’s policing transition, with SPS assuming responsibility for all policing operations in Cloverdale. Cloverdale now joins Whalley / City Centre, Newton, and South Surrey as areas served by SPS. At this time, the RCMP Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit continues to provide policing service in Guildford/Fleetwood.

We are proud to begin serving Cloverdale residents and businesses and look forward to building strong, lasting relationships within the community. There is no change to how police services are accessed—office locations and phone numbers remain the same.

This transition followed a February provincial directive for SPS to assume responsibility for Cloverdale on April 1. To support a safe and seamless transition, SPS implemented temporary operational adjustments, approved by the Surrey Police Board. As part of this approach, some officers have been redeployed from support and community-focused units to frontline policing and priority investigations. This will result in a temporary reduction in capacity in areas such as Youth Services, Community 1st, and Crisis Intervention. These adjustments are necessary as we continue to grow staffing and work toward restoring full capacity across all program areas.

Strengthening frontline capacity remains a key priority. In March, we welcomed 11 new constables following the graduation of Recruit Class #177 at the Justice Institute of BC. We are also actively recruiting experienced officers and have introduced a new signing bonus to attract talent from across Canada. With approximately 650 officers currently serving, we plan to hire an additional 200 members by the end of 2027.

Prevention and youth safety remain central to modern policing. SPS recently launched S.O.A.R.—Strength, Opportunity, Autonomy, and Resilience – an interactive youth safety presentation for students in Grades 6–10. Developed by our Youth Services Unit in partnership with Surrey Schools, the Surrey Women’s Centre, and Pacific Community Resources Society, the presentation addresses issues such as online safety, sexual exploitation, gang involvement, mental wellness, and healthy relationships. Initiatives like S.O.A.R. reflect our commitment to early intervention and strong community partnerships.

Community connection also extends beyond policing programs. I would like to thank everyone who joined us in supporting important local causes. I participated in the Polar Plunge at Crescent Beach in support of Special Olympics BC, and our officers and volunteers took part in Coldest Night of the Year walks in Cloverdale and Whalley, supporting the Storehouse Society and Surrey Urban Mission Society.

From a public safety perspective, we have seen an encouraging decline in extortion reports and extortion related violence over the past two months. There was one shots fired extortion incident in Surrey in February and three in March, compared to ten in January. While this trend is positive, reports of threats against residents and business owners remain deeply concerning.

SPS remains actively engaged in extortion investigations, enforcement, and prevention efforts. If you are experiencing extortion, please report it to police at 604-599-0502. If you have information, you can contact our Surrey Extortion Tip Line at 236-485-5149. We are also continuing to engage with community and business leaders and have released photos of six suspects so far this year to support ongoing investigations.

I would also like to welcome the newly appointed members of the Surrey Police Board. The Province of BC recently appointed George Duncan, Parminder Jawanda, Hanne Madsen, Jaswinder Sidhu, and Larry Thomas. They join current Directors James Carwana, Archie Johnston, and Rob Stutt, along with Board Chair Harley Chappell. Strong governance is essential to our success, and I look forward to working together as we complete the transition and plan for the future.

Finally, we are preparing for the annual Surrey Khalsa Day Vaisakhi Parade on Saturday, April 18—one of the world’s largest Vaisakhi celebrations, with more than half a million people in attendance. SPS is working closely with community partners to ensure a safe and welcoming event, with officers both participating in the parade and supporting public safety operations.

Thank you for your continued support as we build a police service rooted in and dedicated to the Surrey community.

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