Norm Lipinski, who was removed earlier this week as chief of the Surrey Police Service, expressed in a farewell letter to staff that while this was "not the way" he envisioned ending his tenure, he departs with "immense pride" in the achievements made.
The letter, obtained by Postmedia News, details Lipinski's account of his termination. "On my first day back from vacation, I was called into a meeting with the police board and informed that my employment was being terminated without cause," he wrote. "While this is not the way I hoped my time with the Surrey Police Service would come to an end, I leave with immense pride in what we have accomplished together under extraordinarily challenging circumstances."
Lipinski highlighted that the proudest moment of his career was building the Surrey Police Service (SPS) and leading it to become Surrey's police of jurisdiction. He credited the organization's success to the professionalism, dedication, and resilience of its members. "That milestone was only possible because of the professionalism, dedication and resilience demonstrated by every member of this organization," he said. "If there's one thing I have learned, it's that organizations don't succeed because of structures alone — they succeed because of the people who care about one another."
The former chief thanked policing members and noted that the shared memories will stay with him. "It has truly been the privilege of a lifetime," Lipinski added.
While Lipinski and board director Hanne Madsen have described his departure as a termination, uncertainty remains over whether it will be classified as a resignation or a firing. A source familiar with the situation told Postmedia that the chief has been given the option to resign by Thursday at 4 p.m., but Lipinski's letter makes it clear he is not returning.
Earlier this week, it was revealed that the police board's decision to oust Lipinski was not unanimous. Board chair Harley Chappell announced his resignation, stating he was "blindsided" by the decision. This has raised questions about the board's cohesion and governance capabilities.
Labour lawyer Shafik Bhalloo of Kornfeld LLP, who previously served on the West Vancouver police board and teaches at Simon Fraser University, commented, "The resignation (of Chappell) raises governance questions. Police boards are expected to function collectively and make decisions through established governance processes. When the chair of a board indicates that they were surprised by a decision of this magnitude, I, as a member of the public, would question whether the board was operating cohesively and transparently."
Bhalloo also noted that Lipinski's choice between termination and resignation could have financial implications. "The police chief, or any executive employee, may be reluctant to resign because a voluntary resignation can affect their entitlement to compensation under their employment agreement. In many cases, a resignation means the individual walks away from potential severance or other contractual termination benefits, unless the parties negotiate a separation package," he said.
