February 18,2026
RED FM News Desk
Chief Lipinski of the Surrey Police Service (SPS) issued a statement regarding the next phase of the city’s police transition.
Since taking over as the police of jurisdiction for Surrey on November 29, 2024, SPS has gradually expanded operations, starting in Whalley/City Centre and Newton, and completing the South Surrey transition in 2025. The RCMP Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit continues to cover Guildford and Cloverdale as part of the phased plan.
The next phase focuses on Cloverdale. Originally, SPS planned a staggered transition—south Cloverdale in April 2026 and north Cloverdale in July 2026—requiring about 70 officers. Each phase is guided by operational data and staffing projections to ensure service standards are met.
However, an ongoing extortion crisis in Surrey has required the redeployment of over 40 officers to specialized investigative teams, significantly affecting staffing capacity. SPS recommended delaying the Cloverdale transition by roughly four months to maintain citywide service and effectively address the investigations.
Despite this, the Director of Policing and Law Enforcement Services has directed SPS to take responsibility for all of Cloverdale on April 1, 2026. Chief Lipinski emphasized his duty to ensure transitions occur with adequate staffing to meet community expectations while investigative resources remain committed to extortion cases.
Discussions with the Province, the Surrey Police Board, unions, and legal counsel are ongoing, and updates will be provided once they conclude. The chief reaffirmed that SPS remains focused on delivering effective policing and maintaining public safety for the community.
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