Surrey Police Board suspended as B.C. moves to force transition from RCMP

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Surrey Police Board on ice Thursday, in the latest move to force the city to complete its transition to a municipal police force.Mike Farnworth announced that he had suspended all of the board’s members, and that former Abbotsford police chief Mike Serr has been appointed as administrator to fulfil their functions on the Surrey Police Board.In October, Farnworth introduced legislation to force the city to complete its transition from the RCMP to the Surrey Police Service (SPS), which included provincial powers to appoint an administrator to replace board members and act in their stead.Farnworth said the move was necessary due to the lack of progress from the city in moving the police transition forward.The action also results from the need to address budgeting for the current and coming fiscal years, he said.“The best way to do that is to put in place an administrator, suspend the board, and that’s why it is being done,” Farnworth said.“This is not a reflection on the board members who I think have worked incredibly hard and done outstanding work.”Farnworth said he had spoken to the board about the decision, along with Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke — with whom he had a “cordial” conversation.“It’s no secret that this has been a complex issue, it is the largest policing transition in the history of this province and I think in the country,” he said.“They mayor has her views I think on this transition, and I have made it clear that this transition will continue.”Locke was not available for an interview Thursday, but issued a statement accusing the government of a “provincial police takeover” that eliminated civilian oversight.“In effect, the Minister has removed checks and balances,” Locke wrote.“Not only is the Province