AT the conclusion of the June 1 Surrey Police Board meeting, Board Chair Doug McCallum, who is also the Mayor of Surrey, in consultation with the Board, decided that he will be absent from Board meetings for the next few months

According to a Surrey police Board statement, under the Police Act, the Chair does not have the option to step down from the role and he cannot delegate his responsibilities as Chair. However, the Act allows the Board to elect a chair for meetings at which the chair is absent.

The Board made the collective decision that, effective immediately, the Board Chair will be absent from his Police Board duties until after the municipal election in October. The Board will select a chair from among themselves to conduct Board business until then.

The Surrey Police Board is made up of one municipal and seven provincial appointments. The Board will continue in its mandated oversight role of building Surrey Police Service, independent from local government.