Surrey police board shakeup called 'bad timing' by chair

B.C. announced changes to the Surrey Police Board while the city is transitioning to a municipal police force and facing extortion-related incidents; four board members were not reappointed and replacements will be named by the province and the City of Surrey.

Provincial leaders have announced changes to the Surrey Police Board as several terms have ended. The board provides civilian oversight of the Surrey Police Service. Chair Harley Chappell said replacing members now is poorly timed because Surrey is managing extortion-related incidents and is still moving from RCMP oversight to a municipal force. An email from the board confirmed that four members whose terms expired will not be reappointed. What is known: - The provincial government said it is filling vacancies on the Surrey Police Board and has indicated the whole board could be replaced over time. - Surrey Police Board chair Harley Chappell described the timing as poor given the ongoing police transition and extortion-related incidents in the city. - Four board members — Sonia Parmar, Christine Mohr, Nerissa Allen and Sarbjit Bains — were not reappointed when their terms expired. - The province and the City of Surrey will appoint replacements, and the chair noted orientation and catching new directors up will take time. Summary: The announcement comes while Surrey completes a transition from the RCMP to a municipal police force and contends with a series of extortion-related incidents, which the board chair said makes rapid turnover difficult. Provincial and municipal appointments are expected to fill the vacancies, and new directors will require time for orientation and handover.