Surrey Police Service
{{About|the police force in Surrey, British Columbia|the police forces in Surrey, England|Surrey Police|federal and provincial forces headquartered in Surrey|RCMP "E" Division}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=March 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox law enforcement agency
| agencyname = Surrey Police Service
| commonname = Surrey Police
| logo =
| badge = Surrey Police Service.svg
| badgecaption = Badge of the Surrey Police Service
| logocaption =
| motto = Safer. Stronger. Together.
| abbreviation = SPS
| formedyear = 2020{{cite web |url=https://www.surreypolice.ca/news-events/news/sps-surpasses-deployment-milestone-second-anniversary-approaches |title=SPS Surpasses Deployment Milestone as Second Anniversary Approaches |publisher=Surrey Police Service |date=July 25, 2022 |access-date=November 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220725181048/https://www.surreypolice.ca/news-events/news/sps-surpasses-deployment-milestone-second-anniversary-approaches |archive-date=July 25, 2022 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.surrey.ca/sites/default/files/corporate-reports/CR_2022-R199.pdf |title=Corporate Report – Police Transition Update |publisher=City of Surrey |date=November 12, 2022 |access-date=November 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221113080628/https://www.surrey.ca/sites/default/files/corporate-reports/CR_2022-R199.pdf |archive-date=November 13, 2022 |url-status=live}}
| formedmonthday = August 6
| volunteers =
| divtype = Province
| divname = British Columbia
| country = Canada
| subdivtype = City
| subdivname = Surrey
| governingbody = Surrey Police Board
| constitution1 = [http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/00_96367_01#part4 BC Police Act]
| police = Yes
| local = Yes
| sizearea = {{convert|316.41|km2|sqmi}}
| sizepopulation = 568,322
| headquarters = 14355 57 Avenue
| stationtype = Command
| stations =
| sworntype = Sworn Officers
| unsworntype = Civilians
| minister1name = Hon. Garry Begg
| minister1pfo = Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General of British Columbia
| chief1name = Norm Lipinski
| chief1position = Chief Constable
| website = {{URL|https://surreypolice.ca/}}
| vehicle1type = Police Cruisers
| vehicles1 =
| boat1type = Police boats
| boats1 =
| aircraft1type = Helicopters (Airships)
| aircraft1 =
| animal1type = Horses
| animals1 =
| animal2type = Dogs
| animals2 =
}}The Surrey Police Service (SPS) is a municipal police force in the city of Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several police departments within the Metro Vancouver Regional District,{{cite news |last1=Bolan |first1=Kim |date=February 25, 2021 |title=Surrey Police Chief Norm Lipinski working to finalize details of takeover from RCMP |url=https://vancouversun.com/news/surrey-police-chief-norm-lipinski-working-to-finalize-details-of-takeover-from-rcmp |work=Vancouver Sun}} and as of December 2022, the second largest municipal police service in British Columbia. Prior to the SPS's establishment, Surrey was Canada's largest city without a municipal police service.{{cite news |last1=Bula |first1=Frances |date=August 23, 2019 |title=Surrey's move from RCMP to municipal local force unprecedented |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/british-columbia/article-surreys-move-from-rcmp-to-municipal-local-force-unprecedented/ |work=The Globe and Mail}}
Until November 29, 2024, when the Surrey Police Service officially assumed command of all policing and law enforcement duties in the city, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Canada's federal police force, held jurisdiction in the city.{{cite web |title=Surrey Police Service becomes police of jurisdiction for the City of Surrey |url=https://www.surreypolice.ca/news-events/news/surrey-police-service-becomes-police-of-jurisdiction-city-of-surrey |publisher=Surrey Police Service |date=November 29, 2024 |access-date=November 29, 2024}}{{cite press release |author= |title=Province reaches major milestone in Surrey police transition plan |url=https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2024PSSG0035-000618 |location=Canada |publisher=Government of British Columbia |agency=Office of Public Safety and Solicitor General |date=April 23, 2024 |access-date=2024-06-16}} The transition to the Surrey Police Service has faced challenges, partly due to opposition from Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke and the municipal government.
History
Surrey maintained a municipal police department until May 1, 1951, when the city contracted its policing to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.{{cite web |title=History |url=https://surrey.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/ViewPage.action?languageId=1&siteNodeId=2215&contentId=677 |website=Surrey RCMP| date=October 2, 2007 }}{{cite web |title=Contract Policing |url=https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/ccaps-spcca/contract-eng.htm |website=Royal Canadian Mounted Police|date=May 16, 2006 }}
On October 20, 2018, Doug McCallum was elected as mayor after campaigning to remove the RCMP and return to a municipal police agency. On November 5, 2018, Surrey councillors (including then-councillor Brenda Locke) formally voted to begin the transition from the RCMP to the Surrey Police Service.{{cite web |title=Regular Council Minutes |url=https://www.surrey.ca/sites/default/files/minutes/MIN_RC_2018-11-05.pdf |publisher=City of Surrey |date=November 5, 2018}}
The Surrey Police Board was created on February 27, 2020. Norm Lipinski was appointed as the police chief in November 2020. In November 2021, the first Surrey Police Service officers were deployed alongside Surrey RCMP officers.{{cite web|title=Policing Transition|url=https://www.surreypolice.ca/spspolicing-transition|access-date=July 13, 2022|website=Surrey Police Service|date=September 8, 2021 }}
=Attempted reversal to RCMP contract policing=
In the 2022 Surrey Mayoral Election, Brenda Locke was elected as mayor of Surrey after campaigning to halt the police transition and keep the RCMP contract.{{cite web |title=Surrey (City) Election Results |url=https://localelections.ca/election_results/129_2022_results.html |website=CivicInfo BC}} On November 14, 2022, Surrey's city council voted to stop the transition.
On April 28, 2023, the provincial government recommended that the City retain the Surrey Police Service, stating that restaffing the Surrey RCMP would destabilize RCMP staffing across the province, among other concerns.{{cite news |last1=Holiday |first1=Ian |date=2023-04-28 |title=B.C. announces decision on Surrey police transition, recommends SPS |url=https://bc.ctvnews.ca/b-c-announces-decision-on-surrey-police-transition-recommends-sps-1.6374849 |work=CTV News |publisher=Bell Media}}
On June 16, 2023, Surrey council voted to reaffirm its decision to reverse the transition and return to RCMP policing.{{cite web |title=Surrey police decision far from settled after council votes to retain RCMP|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/surrey-police-locke-keep-rcmp-sps-1.6879314|website=CBC News}}
On July 19, 2023, the provincial government ordered the city to continue to transition to the Surrey Police Service.{{cite web |title=Province orders City of Surrey to stick with transition to municipal police force|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/surrey-police-service-rcmp-transition-bc-decision-1.6910870|website=CBC News}}
On October 13, 2023, the Surrey government filed a lawsuit against the province seeking an injunction to suspend the transition.{{cite web |date=2023-10-13|first=Lisa|last=Steacy |title=Surrey mayor announces legal action in ongoing fight over police transition|url=https://bc.ctvnews.ca/surrey-mayor-announces-legal-action-in-ongoing-fight-over-police-transition-1.6600125|website=CTV News}} In response, the BC Legislative Assembly passed the Police Amendment Act, 2023, which enables the Solicitor General to compel the Surrey government into completing the transition and terminating their contract with the RCMP.{{cite web |date=2023-10-26|first=Kevin|last=Charach|title=Province passes legislation to end Surrey policing saga|url=https://bc.ctvnews.ca/province-passes-legislation-to-end-surrey-policing-saga-1.6618103|website=CTV News}}
On November 16, 2023, the BC Solicitor General Mike Farnworth suspended the authority of the Surrey Police Board, invoking the powers granted by the Police Amendment Act, 2023. Farnworth claimed that this was done because the Board was deliberately stalling on the transition process from the RCMP to the SPS. Mayor Locke, who was also the chair of the board, regarded this action as a "takeover" by the provincial government. Mike Serr, a former Abbotsford Police chief, was installed as an administrator to act in the Board's place.{{cite web |date=2023-11-16|first=Simon|last=Little|title=Surrey Police Board suspended as B.C. moves to force transition from RCMP|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/10097204/surrey-police-announcement/|website=Global News}}
On May 23, 2024, the BC Supreme Court dismissed the city's lawsuit, ruling that the new provincial law mandating that Surrey replace the RCMP with the SPS was constitutional.{{Cite web | url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-surrey-police-service-rcmp-supreme-court-decision-1.7212381 | title=B.C. has right to order Surrey police transition, judge rules | website=www.cbc.ca | first1=Moira | last1=Wyton | first2=Jason | last2=Proctor | date=2024-05-23}}
The Surrey Police Service became the police of jurisdiction on November 29, 2024.{{cite news |last1=Larsen |first1=Karin |title='No more sides': Surrey mayor welcomes police force she opposed |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/locke-sps-rcmp-handover-1.7397187 |access-date=1 December 2024 |work=CBC News |publisher=CBC/Radio-Canada |date=29 November 2024}}
Organization
= Budget =
= Policing districts =
The five SPS policing districts align with the city of Surrey's neighbourhood boundaries, with each district managed by a District Inspector.{{cite web |author1=City of Vancouver |author2=City of Surrey |author3=Vancouver Police Department |author4=Curt T. Griffiths |title=Surrey Policing Transition Plan |url=https://www.surrey.ca/sites/default/files/media/documents/SurreyPolicingTransitionReport.pdf |date=May 2019}}{{cite web |title=Contact Us |url=https://surreypolice.ca/contact-us |website=Surrey Police Service}} In addition, the Metro Team is a flexible unit responsible for a citywide patrols.
- District 1 (Whalley/City Centre)
- District 2 (Guildford/Fleetwood)
- District 3 (Newton)
- District 4 (Cloverdale)
- District 5 (South Surrey)
- Metro Team (Citywide Patrol)
= Bureaus =
SPS maintains three bureaus, each managed by a Deputy Chief Constable:{{cite web|title=Organizational Structure|url=https://www.surreypolice.ca/organizational-structure-0|access-date=July 13, 2022|website=Surrey Police Service|date=December 7, 2021 }}
== Community Policing Bureau ==
- Patrol Section
- Patrol Support Section
- Diversity and Community Support Section
- Detention Services Section
- Operations Communications Centre
== Investigative Services Bureau ==
- Major Crime Section
- Organized Crime Section
- Special Investigations Section
- Property Crime Section
- Analysis and Investigations Support Section
== Support Services Bureau ==
- Human Resources Section
- Professional Standards Section
- Recruiting and Training Section
- Information Management Section
- Financial Services Section
- Planning and Research Section
List of chief constables
- Norm Lipinski (2020–present)
Controversies
= Opposition to municipal policing =
Brenda Locke, the current mayor, has opposed the transition to a municipal police force since 2022. She ran for mayor on a platform to keep the RCMP and oppose the creation of a municipal police force. In 2018, however, as a city councillor, she had voted in favour of creating a municipal police force.
The RCMP police union (the National Police Federation) and some community members raised opposition to the establishment of a municipal police force. This group attempted to force a province-wide referendum on the issue in 2021, but failed to secure enough signatures for the vote to proceed.{{cite web|title=Surrey police referendum petition fails|url=https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2021/11/16/surrey-police-referendum-petition-fails/|date=March 4, 2022|access-date=November 16, 2021|website=CityNews}}
= Hiring =
The Surrey Police Service planned to hire 400 officers in 2022. It was accused of poaching officers from other municipal police forces as it rapidly expanded and recruited experienced officers from 18 police forces.{{cite web|title=Surrey Police Service recruitment a public safety issue, says Councillor|url=https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2021/11/26/surrey-police-officers-limits/|date=November 26, 2021|access-date=July 13, 2022|website=CityNews}} In 2022, the Service entered into its first contract with the Surrey Police Union, which included agreements that new recruits would be among the highest-paid in the country and a parity clause that ensured that annual raises would match those of the nearby Vancouver Police Department.{{cite web|title=Surrey Police Service inks 1st contract, making officers among the highest paid in Canada|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/8659847/surrey-police-service-reaches-1st-contract/|date=March 4, 2022|access-date=July 13, 2022|website=Global News}}
See also
- E-Comm, 9-1-1 call and dispatch centre for Southwestern BC
- RCMP "E" Division, a division of federal and provincial police force headquartered in Surrey
- Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit – British Columbia
- Metro Vancouver Transit Police, police force dedicated to the public transit system
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://surreypolice.ca/ Surrey Police Service]
- [https://surreypoliceboard.ca/ Surrey Police Board]
{{Law enforcement agencies in Canada}}
Category:2020 establishments in British Columbia
Category:Government agencies established in 2020