Surrey Police Service Deputy Chief to be paid up to $320,000: FOI

SURREY (NEWS 1130) — The newly-hired Deputy Chief of the brand-new Surrey Police Service will make $235,000 a year in salary — up to $320,000 if you include benefits.

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request obtained by the National Police Federation shows the Deputy Chief’s salary is significantly higher than what the premier makes, and more than double what the mayor of Surrey is paid.

By comparison, the top cop at the Surrey RCMP would have made $180,000 this year, while current Surrey Police Service Chief Norm Lipinski made $208,000 last year as Delta’s chief constable.

“Bringing in a new Deputy Chief making significantly more than the premier of the province makes really exposes the truth about this expensive and unpopular plan,” Brian Sauvé, President of the NPF says in a statement. “The costs for Surrey’s new police service are piling up, and Surrey taxpayers are increasingly finding out why they’re being left with an expensive bill.”

In December, Surrey taxpayers were informed there would be an 11 per cent tax increase coming their way in part to cover the transition costs, which is estimated at about $64 million (transition costs tripling from $19 million), according to NPF.

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“This transition has always come down to Surrey paying more and getting less,” Sauvé added. “Instead of focusing on public safety by investing in new officers, Surrey’s approach has been to spend tens of millions of dollars to re-brand a new force and give the Mayor more control. It’s not too late to turn this around, but people need to speak up and let the province know that this costly, unpopular transition needs to be stopped before it is too late.”