Surrey Police Service officers could outnumber city's Mounties by end of 2024, administrator says

The new administrator of the Surrey Police Board says there could be more Surrey Police Service (SPS) officers on city streets than RCMP officers by the end of next year. 

Mike Serr spoke to reporters Thursday for the first time since the province announced his appointment and the temporary suspension of the previous board, which was chaired by Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke.

Serr said he's approved a provisional 2024 budget for the SPS to be submitted to city council.

He did not want to comment on the details of the budget before council saw it first, but said it was developed to align with the city's 2023-27 financial plan.

"I believe this budget, along with the underlying assumptions, will give city council confidence in the numbers associated with moving forward with this transition," Serr said.

One of those underlying assumptions, he said, was the hiring of 180 more sworn officers in 2024.

He said "blended services" in the city currently mean 25 per cent of officers in the city are part of the SPS, with the remainder being RCMP.

The 180 hires would mean more than 50 per cent of the officers in the city would be SPS members, Serr said.

He added that he's offered to meet with council and city staff for a full technical briefing on the budget.

Locke has long opposed a transition from the RCMP to a municipal force. 

Last month, the province ordered the transition to continue. On Nov. 16, it suspended the police board and appointed Serr, who served as chief constable of the Abbotsford Police Department, to oversee the transition.

Last week, Locke announced the city will amend its original B.C. Supreme Court petition to challenge the constitutionality of the provincial government's recent amendments to the Police Act.

"This government does not have the right to run roughshod on every local government that doesn't bend to their will,'' Locke said.

Serr said Thursday that he accepted the role because he believes in the SPS and respects the work of the Surrey Police Board.

"It is my genuine hope that my role as administrator is short lived and the established police board can return to their duties as soon as possible," he said.