Kash Heed, a former B.C. solicitor general and West Vancouver police chief, has voiced strong criticism against the Surrey police board for adopting new rules that restrict the chief constable's ability to speak publicly. Heed described the move as unprecedented and an overreach of the board's authority, further fueling the ongoing turmoil surrounding the transition from the RCMP to a municipal police force.
Heed's Reaction to the Board's Decision
“In all of my studies, in all my years in policing, I’ve never seen this,” Heed said on Thursday. He emphasized that the board's role is governance, and by muzzling the chief, they are exceeding their powers. The new rules, approved at the board's Wednesday meeting, prohibit the police chief and other officials from commenting on decisions made by city hall or the B.C. government.
Impact on Recruitment and Morale
Heed warned that such restrictions would make it difficult to attract a qualified chief constable. “The chief constable should be free to speak on issues that are paramount to Surrey. They’re not allowing that. It’s going to be very difficult now to bring in a qualified chief constable that’s going to lead them — the chaos that they’re in right now — when you put a muzzle on them right at the outset,” he added.
Background of the Conflict
The board's directive stemmed from comments made by Norm Lipinski, who was terminated as chief nearly three weeks ago without cause. Lipinski had publicly addressed various policing concerns, including requesting a delay in the Surrey Police Service (SPS) taking over policing in Cloverdale. The province declined, forcing SPS to take over sooner than Lipinski wanted, which he said led to the disbandment of Surrey's anti-gang unit to provide officers for Cloverdale.
Todd Matsumoto is currently serving as interim chief while the board searches for a permanent replacement.
Political Interference Allegations
Heed, who also served as public safety minister, criticized the level of political interference from both the city and the province. He noted that Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke campaigned on ending the policing transition but lost that fight, as the province forced SPS on the city. “The whole move is about control,” Heed asserted.
He also pointed to the province's replacement of five police board directors in March as an unprecedented move. After Lipinski's termination, board chair Harley Chappell resigned in protest, followed by director James Carwana days later.
Board's Clarification
The Surrey police board did not provide much clarity on how the new communications directive will be implemented. In a statement, the board said the chief remains free to speak on crime, community safety, and police operations. However, it added, “The Surrey police board has its own direct responsibilities for the governance and oversight of SPS. The policy is clear that in situations where those areas of responsibility overlap, the expectation is for management and the board to engage one another.”
