Decision not to renew directors has come as a surprise says Surrey police board chair

February 12, 2026

RED FM News Desk

In a rebuke of the provincial government, Surrey Police Board Chair Harley Chappell is firing back at Premier David Eby’s decision not to renew four key directors, calling the move a “surprise” that ignores the deep community roots and proven track record of the ousted members. As the province cites a desperate need for a board “reflective of the community” to combat a violent surge in local extortion, Chappell argues that the Premier has removed the very leaders best equipped to handle the crisis.

Chappell has issued a pointed response to Premier David Eby’s decision to let the appointments of four board directors lapse. The provincial move comes as a response to a staggering surge in extortion-related violence south of the Fraser River.

According to recent data from the Surrey Police Service (SPS), the city is grappling with a severe public safety crisis. As of February 2, 2026, there have already been 46 extortion attempts and 11 related shootings this year alone. This follows a violent 2025, which saw 132 extortion attempts and 49 shootings. In the first five weeks of this year, police have also identified 29 victims and one case of extortion-related arson.

In announcing the decision to replace the directors, Premier Eby stated the goal was to deliver a police board that is “reflective of the community” and aligned with local priorities. However, Chappell strongly disputed the implication that the outgoing directors—Sarbjit Bains, Christine Mohr, Nerissa Allen, and Sonia Parmar—were out of touch.

Chappell highlighted the deep community ties of the four members, noting that Sarbjit Bains is a respected figure in the South Asian community, while Nerissa Allen leads the province’s largest Black business association. Christine Mohr recently retired as CEO of Options Community Services, and Sonia Parmar was named Surrey’s 2025 Volunteer of the Year. “Respectfully, the directors who were let go do reflect the community,” Chappell stated, adding that their contributions “will not be easily replaced.”

“The decision not to renew these directors has come as a surprise. At no point did the Province advise that their performance fell short of expectations. On the contrary, they and the Board were led to believe that their appointments would be renewed. In some cases, they were personally told that they were being extended. As well, the Board received feedback from the Province and was regularly commended for the progress being made on determining community priorities and putting governance structures and procedures in place,” he said.  

The Chair emphasized that the board’s work over the past year—including community surveys and meetings with City Council—had already established a clear mandate for the SPS. “The engagement process conducted by the board in late 2025 identified three urgent priorities for Surrey residents –addressing the extortion crisis, completing the policing transition and ensuring a visible SPS presence in the community,” he said.

These priorities were scheduled for formal approval at the February board meeting, which was ultimately postponed. While Chappell stated the board would welcome the perspective of new appointees, he maintained that the outgoing directors followed best practices to ensure the police service remains accountable to the people of Surrey.

“None of us came to the role looking for praise,” Chappell concluded, calling for the volunteer directors to be treated with respect. “Those who donate their time and expertise in service to their community deserve to be treated the way you would like to be treated.”