THE building of the Surrey Police Service (SPS) continues to gain momentum with the Surrey Police Board and CUPE 402 entering into a Memorandum of Agreement with respect to the future transfer of City of Surrey employees to the SPS to support its operations.

While the timing of the transfer of the City of Surrey staff who currently support the Surrey RCMP to the SPS is yet to be determined, this agreement provides certainty to the important civilian staff who support policing operations in Surrey. It allows for the continued support of the RCMP during the transition and confirms these unionized staff will have positions in the new municipal SPS in the future. 

The agreement was signed by Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum, SPS Chief Constable Norm Lipinski, and Jeannie Kilby, President, CUPE 402.

Kilby said: “For decades, CUPE members have provided a range of support services to the RCMP Surrey Detachment.  Our members are committed to providing excellence in public safety to Surrey, a city in which many of them live. Over 450 CUPE employees and their families now have the security to move forward with the SPS, while continuing to support the RCMP and its members through this transition.”

Lipinski said: “We look forward to working with CUPE 402, the City, and the RCMP to make sure an effective and respectful transfer of City of Surrey staff to the SPS.  The employees transferring to the SPS will ensure that there is no disruption to the provision of service to the residents of Surrey, and we welcome them and the extensive public safety knowledge and skills they bring to the Surrey Police Service’s team.”

Plans for implementing the Memorandum of Agreement will be mutually developed by the SPS and CUPE 402 in the coming weeks.

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