Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke has publicly distanced herself from the dismissal of Norm Lipinski, who served as chief of the Surrey Police Service for five years. Locke emphasized that the decision was made by the Surrey Police Board, stating, “We do not make those decisions at city hall.” She expressed gratitude for Lipinski's efforts during the challenging transition from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to the Surrey Police Service (SPS) and wished him well. The dismissal has sparked controversy, leading to the resignation of Harley Chappell, the chair of the Surrey Police Board, who felt disrespected by the decision-making process that occurred without his presence. Chappell noted that the board was frustrated with the pace of the transition under Lipinski's leadership. Political rival Linda Annis criticized Locke, claiming that the firing was politically motivated and indicative of her lack of support for the police transition. The timing of Lipinski's ousting, just months before the municipal elections, raises concerns about the future of policing and public safety discussions in Surrey.