The SPS Dispatch Newsletter
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Current and Past Newsletters
A Message from the Interim Chief Constable
July/August 2026
As summer begins to wind down, I want to share a brief update on public safety in Surrey, the continued growth of Surrey Police Service (SPS), and some of the many ways our officers and staff have been connecting with the community over the past few months.
First, a short introduction as SPS’s Interim Chief Constable. I have spent the past 33 years in policing, serving Lower Mainland communities. I joined the New Westminster Police Department in 1993, where I worked in patrol, street crime, major crime, and several leadership roles over a 28-year career. In 2021, I became the fourth sworn officer hired by SPS. As Deputy Chief with SPS, I led both the Investigative Services Bureau and, more recently, the Corporate Services Bureau.
My role as Interim Chief is to keep public safety and the development of SPS moving forward. That means supporting our 1,200 employees while ensuring we continue to provide the level of policing Surrey residents expect and deserve. I want to thank residents, business owners, community partners, and SPS staff for the warm welcome and support you have shown during this leadership transition. I am grateful for the trust you have placed in SPS as the Surrey Police Board conducts its search for the organization's next Chief Constable.
As Interim Chief, my priorities are grounded in what we are hearing from the community.
First: Addressing extortion-related crime
I know the extortion threats and related violence experienced over the past year have had a significant impact on members of Surrey's business community. SPS continues to work closely with policing partners to identify those responsible, support victims, and prevent further incidents.
There are encouraging signs that our collective efforts are making a difference. This year, extortion threats have declined from 44 incidents in January to eight in July. Extortion-related shots-fired incidents also decreased from 10 in January to one in July. While this trend is positive, our investigative, enforcement, and prevention teams remain fully engaged to ensure continued pressure on those responsible for this activity.
Second: Strengthening community-based policing
Community-based policing means officers who are visible, approachable, and connected to the neighbourhoods they serve. It is about more than responding to calls for service; it is about building relationships and preventing crime.
This summer, SPS officers and staff attended numerous community events, including Canada Day celebrations, Fusion Festival, FIFA World Cup watch parties, the Downtown Surrey BIA Long Long Table event, Cloverdale Market Days, and many others. These events provide valuable opportunities to connect with residents and help make Surrey a safe and welcoming place for everyone.
Our Youth Services Team has also remained busy throughout the summer, engaging young people through proactive programming. Initiatives such as the SPS Student Police Academy, Surrey Police Soccer Camp, and youth mentorship programs help build confidence and create positive connections between youth and police.
Our Crime Prevention team also recently launched Vacation Watch, a free community safety program that helps residents keep their homes secure while they are away. To learn more, visit www.surreypolice.ca/vacation-watch.
Third: Completing the transition from the RCMP to SPS
The policing transition remains a complex undertaking, but from a community perspective, our goal is simple: residents should continue to receive reliable, professional police service when they need it. Maintaining continuity of service remains our focus.
Discussions continue between SPS, the RCMP, and the Province of British Columbia regarding a timeline for SPS to assume operational responsibility for the final remaining district, Guildford/Fleetwood (District 2).
Recruiting remains a critical part of that work. In July, we celebrated the graduation of Recruit Class 178, with 19 new officers joining our Frontline teams. In September, we will welcome another recruit class as they begin training, along with our next group of experienced officers. We have also continued to hire civilian professionals for key roles that support policing operations and public safety throughout the city.
I am encouraged by the progress we are making as an organization and as a community. Surrey continues to grow and evolve, and SPS is growing alongside it. Every day, our officers and staff come to work focused on keeping people safe, solving problems, and earning the confidence of the community we serve. It is a responsibility we take seriously, and one we are proud to carry forward.
Interim Chief Constable Todd Matsumoto
May/Jun 2026
May/June 2026 Enewsletter
Leadership Transition at Surrey Police Service
On June 2nd, the Surrey Police Board announced a leadership transition at Surrey Police Service (SPS), with Chief Constable Norm Lipinski departing the organization and Deputy Chief Constable Todd Matsumoto appointed as Interim Chief Constable.
In a public statement, Interim Chief Matsumoto recognized Chief Lipinski’s more than five years of leadership at SPS and his 47-year policing career, noting that many of the Service’s milestones reflect his contributions.
SPS remains focused on public safety priorities, including addressing crime and supporting ongoing operations, while continuing recruitment efforts and advancing Surrey’s policing transition. The Board will begin a recruitment process for a new Chief Constable in the coming weeks.
2025 Report to the Community
The 2025 SPS Report to the Community is now available on the SPS website. This report provides a progress update on the policing transition as well as key accomplishments for the year, service and crime statistics, our work in the community, and year-end financials. This annual report is a great way to understand the priorities and approach of your new police service, as we continue to work with the community to improve public safety.
Update on Extortions
Addressing extortion threats and related violence remains a top priority for SPS. Over the past four months, we have seen a decline in both reported extortion threats and extortion-related shots fired.
While these reductions are encouraging, SPS continues to actively pursue offenders, disrupt criminal activity, investigate extortions, and support victims. Our Project Assurance team provides daily patrols, education and engagement with businesses and residents, and Neighbourhood Outreach events following violent incidents to provide information and support to the impacted community.
We have also made progress on several investigations, with 30 charges laid and three firearms seized. In addition, CBSA has removed 12 Surrey individuals from Canada, and SPS has released the photos of 11 individuals with a public appeal for more information on their activities and associations.
Combatting Bike Theft with Project 529
SPS has partnered with Project 529, an online bike registry and recovery service that helps identify and return stolen bicycles. Residents can register their bikes by adding details such as serial numbers, photos, and unique features to support recovery efforts. This information helps officers confirm bike ownership and identify stolen bikes.
Cyclists can also apply a 529 Shield —a tamper-resistant decal with a unique ID—to help deter theft and make bikes easier to identify. Our Crime Prevention Unit and SPS volunteers will be out in community throughout the summer, offering Project 529 bike registrations along with a free 529 Shield.
Learn more, register your bike, and view upcoming events at surreypolice.ca/project-529-bike-theft-prevention.
Cops for Cancer Tour de Valley
Three SPS members – Detective Constable Zabrina Braithwaite, Constable Julie Touch and Caitlin Young – are participating in the 2026 Cops for Cancer Tour de Valley this September.
Participating in the ride is a meaningful and demanding undertaking. Our riders commit months of training, fundraising $6,000 each, and completing a six-day ride of 100 kms per day across the Fraser Valley. Their efforts help advance critical childhood cancer research and provide support to families.
Donations supporting the SPS team can be made on the Cops for Cancer website.
World Cup Ready in Surrey
SPS has been working closely with the City of Surrey for a number of months to plan for the safety and security of local events and to prepare for the influx of visitors during the FIFA World Cup. If you plan to attend a live match broadcast at one of Surrey’s fan zones (Civic Plaza, Cloverdale Agriplex, South Surrey Athletic Park), you will see SPS officers on-site to ensure events remain safe for fans of all ages.
Our Recruiting team will also be at the Fan Zone events on June 12, 18, and 24 to answer any questions from potential applicants.
And, with soccer-fever in the air, it’s no surprise that registration for our annual SPS Soccer Camp filled up quickly! Our officers and local youth will be hitting the field this August.
Mar/Apr 2026
A Message from the Chief Constable
March/April Newsletter 2026
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.
Chief Constable Norm Lipinski
Jan/Feb 2026
January/February 2026 Enewsletter
Update on Extortions
Surrey Police Service (SPS) continues to take action on the ongoing extortion crisis through enforcement, collaboration, prevention, and community engagement. In late January, SPS officers arrested five men, all of whom have been charged with Criminal Code offences, in two separate extortion-related investigations, demonstrating meaningful progress by frontline and investigative teams. To further support these investigations, photos of the accused were released publicly to help generate additional information.
SPS officers and civilian staff remain dedicated to protecting residents and businesses through coordinated investigative and proactive efforts. Investigators, our dedicated victim management team, and the proactive “Project Assurance” team work closely together to identify and arrest offenders, follow up on public tips, and support victims, their families, and businesses. The Project Assurance team operates around the clock, providing targeted patrols at extortion-related locations to enhance safety and disrupt criminal activity.
SPS leadership continues to engage regularly with provincial partners and police agencies nationwide and looks forward to working with the new community advisory group announced by Premier Eby.
Information on SPS’s extortion response
Statement from Chief Lipinski on Provincial Action on Extortions
Extortion safety videos and Chief update videos
Support Community Safety Through Project IRIS
Project IRIS is being relaunched as SPS assumes ownership of the CCTV camera registry program originally introduced by the City of Surrey in 2016. Surrey residents and business owners can help enhance community safety by voluntarily registering their external security cameras.
Project IRIS (Integrated Resources for Investigations & Safety) is a confidential database that identifies the location of registered cameras, allowing police to respond to incidents more quickly and efficiently. Instead of canvassing neighbourhoods door to door, officers can identify potential cameras and contact owners directly to request relevant footage. Participation is entirely voluntary, and police never have access to live feeds or recordings without permission. By registering, you will help support investigations and reduce resource demands. Learn more or register at surreypolice.ca/project-iris.
Supporting Employee Wellness After Critical Incidents
SPS has introduced the Critical Incident Aftercare and Reintegration Program (CIARP) to strengthen support for the health and wellness of sworn officers and civilian staff exposed to traumatic incidents in the course of their work.
Developed by the SPS Wellness Unit in collaboration with SPS Psychologist Dr. Lisa Kitt, CIARP provides structured, evidence-based aftercare following potentially traumatic events. The program is designed to reduce the risk of occupational stress injuries, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, by ensuring timely support, recovery time, and access to appropriate resources. By recognizing that while trauma exposure may be unavoidable in policing, long-term injury is not, CIARP reflects SPS’s commitment to helping employees remain healthy throughout their careers while continuing to serve the community safely and effectively.
Police Transition Update
The transition of police services in Surrey is ongoing, with SPS now responsible for all policing operations in Whalley/City Centre, Newton, and South Surrey. The RCMP Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit continues to provide policing support in Guildford and Cloverdale at this time.
In January, SPS welcomed 12 more experienced officers and 21 recruits, bringing our officer count to 627, and our overall staff complement to 1,125. Our next experienced officer class will join us in March, followed by a new recruit class. Learn more about our career opportunities and application process.
Surrey’s policing transition will be completed when all policing duties in Surrey are conducted by SPS. The timeline for this will depend on several factors, including the pace of SPS hiring and transferring files and exhibits from the RCMP to SPS. Learn more about the policing transition.