Surrey Police Board names Todd Matsumoto chief constable; McCallum calls for board's removal
The Surrey Police Board appointed Todd Matsumoto permanent chief constable on October 30, hours before the new council takes office, prompting mayor-elect Doug McCallum to demand the Province replace every board member.
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Surrey Police Board named Todd Matsumoto permanent chief constable on October 30, 2026, the last business day before mayor-elect Doug McCallum and the new council take office. McCallum condemned the timing and called on the Province to dissolve the entire board, while also pledging to support Matsumoto in the role.
"The only reason to do this on Friday was to do it before Monday," McCallum said in a statement reported by the Surrey Now-Leader. He described the decision as "Brenda Locke's handpicked board doing exactly what it was built to do: carry out the mayor's wishes after the voters have shown the mayor the door."
McCallum called on the Province to "remove this entire board, every member of it, and appoint a new, non-partisan board through a public process, immediately."
McCallum says he will support Matsumoto
McCallum said he would support Matsumoto in the role while directing his criticism at the board. "The union stands behind him, he will have my support and SPS officers will get the helicopter, drones and resources I promised," he said.
That commitment directly touches one of his campaign promises: equipping Surrey Police Service with a helicopter and a fleet of drones within 90 days of taking office. Surrey residents can follow whether he delivers on that and other promises at /bc/surrey-2026/tracker.
Surrey Police Union president Sgt. Ryan Buhrig also backed the appointment, calling Matsumoto "the right person for the job" and describing it as "a positive signal to our members on the bright future of SPS."
Matsumoto's background
Matsumoto has served with Surrey Police Service since February 2021. He began his policing career with the New Westminster Police Department in 1993. He has been serving as interim chief since June 2026, when the board ended founding chief Norm Lipinski's contract eight months into a renewed ongoing term.
Police Board chair Perm Jawanda described the appointment as the result of "a comprehensive national search process" that included community and stakeholder engagement. "We are confident Todd Matsumoto is the right leader to guide SPS forward," Jawanda said.
Matsumoto said his focus as permanent chief would be "transparency, consistent communication and relationship-based leadership."
The Lipinski court petition
The appointment follows an unresolved legal dispute. Former chief Norm Lipinski filed a petition in BC Supreme Court on September 28, 2026, asking the court to overturn his dismissal. He claims his firing was "motivated by extraneous political considerations disconnected from Chief Lipinski's conduct or competence," according to the Surrey Now-Leader. No court has ruled on that claim.
The new Council is sworn in on Monday, November 2, 2026, at Surrey City Hall. Residents who want to follow the new council's decisions on policing can track McCallum's commitments at /bc/surrey-2026/tracker.
Questions this story answers
Who is Todd Matsumoto?
Todd Matsumoto has served with Surrey Police Service since February 2021. He has more than three decades of experience in municipal policing. He has been serving as interim chief constable since June 2026, when the board ended founding chief Norm Lipinski's contract. The Police Board says the permanent appointment followed a national search process that included community and stakeholder engagement.
Why did Doug McCallum object to the appointment?
McCallum said the appointment was made on the last business day before he and the new council take office on November 2, 2026. He described it as 'Brenda Locke's handpicked board doing exactly what it was built to do: carry out the mayor's wishes after the voters have shown the mayor the door,' according to the Surrey Now-Leader. He called on the Province to remove every board member and appoint a new, non-partisan board.
Does McCallum support Matsumoto as chief?
Yes. McCallum said his objection is to the Police Board, not to Matsumoto. He said he would give Matsumoto his support and that Surrey Police Service officers would receive the helicopter, drones and resources he promised during his campaign. The Surrey Police Union also backed the appointment, with union president Sgt. Ryan Buhrig calling Matsumoto 'the right person for the job.'
What happened to the previous chief, Norm Lipinski?
Lipinski was the founding chief constable of Surrey Police Service. The board ended his ongoing contract on June 1, 2026, eight months after it was renewed. Lipinski filed a petition in BC Supreme Court on September 28, 2026, asking the court to overturn his dismissal. He claims the board's decision was 'motivated by extraneous political considerations disconnected from Chief Lipinski's conduct or competence,' according to the Surrey Now-Leader. The court has not ruled on that petition.
What did McCallum promise about police resources?
During his campaign, McCallum promised to equip Surrey Police Service with a helicopter and a fleet of drones within 90 days of taking office. He repeated that commitment on October 30, saying 'SPS officers will get the helicopter, drones and resources I promised.' Surrey residents can follow whether this promise is kept at /bc/surrey-2026/tracker.
When does McCallum take office?
McCallum and the new Surrey City Council are scheduled to be sworn in at the inaugural council meeting on Monday, November 2, 2026, at Surrey City Hall. This is the first meeting of the council elected on October 17, 2026. McCallum won the mayor's race with a strong majority over outgoing mayor Brenda Locke, according to the official results certified on October 21.
What is the Surrey Police Board?
The Surrey Police Board is the civilian body that oversees Surrey Police Service. It sets the strategic direction of the service and is responsible for appointments at the chief constable level. Board members are appointed by the provincial government. McCallum has called on the Province to replace the current board.
How can residents follow the new council's decisions on policing?
Residents can track McCallum's commitments on police resources, including the helicopter and drones promise, at the Surrey promise tracker at /bc/surrey-2026/tracker. The new council meets for the first time on November 2, 2026, at Surrey City Hall.
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