Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth has temporarily suspended the Surrey Police Board 含羞草研究社� of which Mayor Brenda Locke was chairwoman 含羞草研究社� and appointed retired Abbotsford police chief Mike Serr as its replacement administrator.

含羞草研究社淭oday, I am announcing the appointment of Mike Serr as the administrator of the Surrey Police Board to assume the functions of the board to assist with Surrey含羞草研究社檚 transition to the SPS,含羞草研究社� Farnworth stated in a press release Thursday afternoon. 含羞草研究社淎ll members of the Surrey Police Board have been suspended and they will resume their roles when the administrator含羞草研究社檚 appointment concludes.含羞草研究社�

Farnworth noted Serr含羞草研究社檚 appointment was made under Section 8 of the Police Amendment Act 含羞草研究社渁fter careful consideration of the work by the Surrey Police Board, which has been limited due to the lack of progress from the City of Surrey in advancing the police model transition to the SPS.

含羞草研究社淭his need was identified by Jessica McDonald as the strategic implementation adviser in the course of her work on the transition and numerous meetings with key parties, subject matter experts and stakeholders,含羞草研究社� Farnworth said.

含羞草研究社淚 want to personally thank each member of the board for volunteering their time and for their dedication and commitment, while undertaking this challenging work to date. I know the Surrey Police Board and each board member has done their best through what has been unique, challenging and complicated circumstances. I look forward to their continued work and their service to the people of Surrey once an administrator is no longer needed.含羞草研究社�

Farnworth said by appointing Serr as administrator he含羞草研究社檚 含羞草研究社渢aking action to help move forward the transition (from the Surrey RCMP to Surrey Police Service) to completion.含羞草研究社�

Locke could not be reached for comment. Melissa Granum, executive director of the Surrey Police Board, declined to comment 含羞草研究社渁t this time,含羞草研究社� except to say that 含羞草研究社渢he board respects the decision of the government.含羞草研究社�

Surrey Police Service含羞草研究社檚 Chief Constable Norm Lipinski issued a statement late Thursday afternoon thanking the SPB for 含羞草研究社渢he outstanding work they have done over the past three years to stand up a brand-new police agency while navigating an unprecedented policing transition.

含羞草研究社淭hese board members have done an enormous amount of work to get Surrey Police Service to the point it is at today,含羞草研究社� reads a quote attributed to Lipinski. 含羞草研究社淭he work of good governance can be thankless, but strong policies, clear organizational direction, and transparent financial oversight are critical to both the organization and the public. I thank the Surrey Police Board members for their leadership, expertise and resilience, and I look forward to working with them again, once their appointments resume.含羞草研究社�

Lipinski added that he含羞草研究社檚 looking forward to working with Serr.

含羞草研究社淎s an independent Administrator, Mr. Serr will assume all governance duties of the Surrey Police Board, ensuring that the civilian oversight and public accountability of Surrey Police Service will continue. I am confident that Mr. Serr will play a critical role in helping to expedite the policing transition with this streamlining of governance decisions for Surrey Police Service,含羞草研究社� Lipinski said.

On Oct. 13, the City of Surrey with the Supreme Court of British Columbia seeking a judicial review of Farnworth含羞草研究社檚 July 19 order to proceed with the SPS, as the mayor continues to stands firm in the majority of council含羞草研究社檚 intention to stick with the RCMP as Surrey含羞草研究社檚 police of jurisdiction.

The provincial government has yet to file a response to Surrey含羞草研究社檚 petition with the court registry and 含羞草研究社渇or reasons that are privileged含羞草研究社� cannot provide an estimated date. Respondents served in Canada are typically given 21 days to respond.

At Surrey含羞草研究社檚 Oct. 16 council meeting Locke said she instructed city staff to undertake a review of the policing transition, from day one to now.

含羞草研究社淚 want us in Surrey to have a clear understanding of what has transpired over the last five years,含羞草研究社� she said at that meeting.

含羞草研究社淢y position, this council含羞草研究社檚 position, has not changed,含羞草研究社� she said Oct. 16. 含羞草研究社淚 continue to oppose the transition because of the extraordinary cost for Surrey taxpayers that will deliver no public safety benefit.含羞草研究社�